scholarly journals Health and Happiness in the New Urban Agenda: The Central Role of Public Space

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 5891
Author(s):  
Michael W. Mehaffy
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Framework Agreement ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Life Aspirations ◽  
New Urban Agenda

The New Urban Agenda—the global urbanization framework agreement adopted by acclamation by all 193 countries of the United Nations—contains no fewer than eight paragraphs on the importance of public space, three of which outline its role in achieving “human health and well-being”, “attractive and liveable cities”, and “physical and mental health”. However, there is an urgent need to translate these and other quality of life aspirations contained in this landmark document into measurable targets, tools, and strategies to achieve outcomes. This paper examines the core theories that connect health and well-being to public space as reflected in the document, surveying some of the most relevant research in the field. It then analyzes the document text to identify a number of potentially useful indicators. Finally, it proposes a framework for data gathering, assessment, and iterative progress in achieving the stated goals, concluding with an overview of emerging research and practice, and proposed next steps.

scholarly journals Public Space in the New Urban Agenda. The Challenge of Implementation

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Elmlund ◽  
Tigran Haas ◽  
Michael Mehaffy
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Cultural Expression ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
Being There ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
New Urban Agenda

The New Urban Agenda – the landmark 2016 agreement for sustainable urban development that has now been adopted by consensus by 193 nations – contains no fewer than nine paragraphs extensively discussing the importance of public space.  Among other things, the document describes public spaces as “drivers of social and economic development,” “enhancing safety and security, favoring social and inter-generational interaction and the appreciation of diversity” and “promoting walkability and cycling towards improving health and well-being.” There is also language on the role of public space in enhancing ecological sustainability and resilience, on equity and opportunity, on connectivity and social inclusion, on cultural expression and dialogue, and on broader human development (United Nations, 2017).

Pateicības izpausmes folklorā psiholoģiskā kontekstā

2021 ◽  
pp. 42-53
Author(s):  
Ieva Ančevska
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Neuroscience Research ◽  
Health And Well Being

The article examines the depiction of gratitude and related events in Latvian folklore through comparative evaluation. Gratitude is considered in a psychological context, comparing the attitude expressed in folklore with the findings of modern scientific research. Gratitude is a concept that is usually associated with a relationship or a benefit, it is most often aimed outwards, dedicated to someone else, but at the same time, it creates a pleasant feeling within the person. In modern psychology, gratitude is receiving more and more attention from researchers because its manifestations stimulate the formation of positive emotions and contribute to the improvement of the person’s overall well-being. Research and clinical studies in psychotherapy confirm that gratitude plays an important role in improving mental health and reducing depressive, destructive feelings. In turn, neuroscience research shows the potential of a grateful and positive attitude in strengthening psycho-emotional health and well-being in general. In Latvian folklore, gratitude is depicted as an important part of ritual events, which helps to ensure a positive, balanced connection with the forces of nature, gods, and society. In folklore, the importance of gratitude is emphasised more when building family relationships or accepting various situations and occurrences in life. In both psychological research and the practice of systemic therapy, as well as in folklore, gratitude appears as one of the most important values of interpersonal connection, which promotes the formation of harmonious relationships. Similar to the opinions of psychology, the folk world views emphasise the motivational role of gratitude in improving the quality of human life and health in general.

scholarly journals Deregulation and the Assault on Science and the Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 347-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Samet ◽  
Thomas A. Burke
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research To Policy ◽  
Health And Well Being

The quality of the environment is a major determinant of the health and well-being of a population. The role of scientific evidence is central in the network of laws addressing environmental pollution in the United States and has been critical in addressing the myriad sources of environmental pollution and the burden of disease attributable to environmental factors. We address the shift away from reasoned action and science to a reliance on belief and document the efforts to separate regulation from science and to remove science-based regulations and policies intended to protect public health. We outline the general steps for moving from research to policy, show how each has been undermined, offer specific examples, and point to resources that document the enormity of the current efforts to set aside scientific evidence.

scholarly journals ‘Sacrifice zone’: The environment–territory–place of disposable lives

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Lopes de Souza
Keyword(s):  
Residential Segregation ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
The Poor ◽  
State Apparatus ◽  
Capitalist World ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract ‘Sacrifice zone’ is how a certain type of segregated and stigmatized space has become internationally known. In such a space, the physical and mental health and the quality of life of human beings are compromised in the name of ‘economic development’ or ‘progress’ – but ultimately for the sake of capitalist interests. This article offers a discussion of how environmental issues, power relations and the production of subjectivity intersect in the production of a kind of space that is typical of how residential segregation correlates with patterns of industrial location and the neglect of the health and well-being of the poor by the state apparatus in the (semi) periphery of the capitalist world system.

scholarly journals Animal-Assisted Play: A Strategy for Promoting Children’s Physical Activity Play

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Boisvert ◽  
W. Andrew Harrell
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Free Play ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Agency Risk ◽  
Health And Well Being

This article explores how animal-assisted play might be used as a strategy in playwork to support children’s right to play, enrich their play experiences, encourage their physical activity play and better their health and life quality. Children’s interactions with pets or companion animals in free play or animal-assisted activities (AAA) can yield therapeutic benefits by increasing physical and mental health and well-being and also offer possibilities for more outdoor play, agency, risk-taking, fun and enjoyment, as well as high-quality play experiences. We invite playwork practitioners to consider the important role of animals in children’s lives and the potential value of animal-assisted play in creating opportunities for enriching children’s play and life quality.

scholarly journals A A Review on Ayurvedic concept of significance of Nidra in Lifestyle Disorders.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehrukh Fatima Syed
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Disturbed Sleep ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Lack Of Sleep ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Mental Fitness ◽  
Comprehensive Manner ◽  
Health And Well Being

Many new disorders have come up in recent years due to rapid changes in lifestyle of people, collectively called as lifestyle disorders. According to the Ayurveda,   man is said to be healthy whose Dosha, Dhatu, Mala & Agni are in the state of equilibrium along with mental, sensory and spiritual pleasantness and happiness. Ayurveda emphasizes on physical & mental fitness with prevention of disease & preservation of health in a comprehensive manner. There are many unhealthy practices followed by people in their day to day life which badly affect their health, one of them is lack of sleep or disturbed sleep pattern.   “Early to bed & early to arise makes a man healthy, wealthy & wise.” This proverb has a great significance. Ayurveda believes in saying it. Trayopstambha ( Ahara, nidra, Brahmacharya) is key to health and disease on which our life and vitality is based. It focus on daily regimen (Dincharya) that can avoid lifestyle disorders. Nidra plays an important role in physical and mental health. Ayurveda has prescribed certain rules, in regard to diet and sleep, called seasonal regimen (Rutucharya).  Present article emphasized on role of Nidra in promotion of maintenance of health and well being and prevention of lifestyle disorders.

scholarly journals Understanding the impact of ‘wish-granting’ interventions on the health and well-being of children with life-threatening health conditions and their families: A systematic review

2021 ◽  
pp. 136749352110167
Author(s):  
Gemma Heath ◽  
Cassandra Screti ◽  
Helen Pattison ◽  
Rebecca Knibb
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Health Quality ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Study Designs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

This review aimed to explore how wish-granting interventions impact on the health and well-being of children with life-threatening health conditions and their families, using any study design. Six electronic databases (Medline; PsycINFO; CINAHL; Embase; AMED and HMIC) were systematically searched to identify eligible research articles. Studies were critically appraised using a Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings were synthesized narratively. 10 papers were included, reporting studies conducted across five countries, published from 2007 to 2019. Study designs were diverse (four quantitative; two qualitative and four mixed method). Results indicated improvements to physical and mental health, quality of life, social well-being, resilience and coping for wish children, parents and siblings. In conclusion, wish-granting interventions can positively impact health and therefore should not be discouraged; however, more research is needed to define and quantify the impact of wish fulfilment and to understand how it can be maximized.

scholarly journals We the public space. Strategies to deal with inequalities in order to achieve inclusive and sustainable urban environments

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Bravo
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Design Management ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
True Nature ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
New Urban Agenda

At the Ninth session of the World Urban Forum, convened by UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, held on 7-13 February 2018 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, City Space Architecture was selected to coordinate a networking event, which took place on Sunday February 11 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.The networking event was intended to be an effective contribution to the discussion related to improvement of human health and well-being, overcoming discrimination and inequalities, thus giving rights to vulnerable community-groups. Those references are relevant both for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and for the achievement of the SDGs. Human health and well-being are strongly related to public space and the way it is designed and managed. Nowadays we often record the increasingly privatisation of the public domain in direct and indirect ways; also, the lack of facilities to access, live and enjoy the public space often isolate communities, limiting their freedom to engage into the public sphere. We mainly refer to public space's cultural richness, identity and diversity, but in our contemporary times public space is dealing more and more with inequalities, poverty and conflicts. Public spaces are meant to be open, inclusive and democratic, but today we see physical, social and economic barriers that challenge the true nature of public space: economic issues, social and cultural segregation, huge real estate investments, privatization trends and gentrification processes are dominating aspirations of local communities and different social groups. We also experience theoretical barriers to an open discussion on public space: the discourse is often limited to specific national or linguistic areas and the dominance of exempla from the so-called global West or global North are limiting our knowledge about public space, often imposing an oversimplified view of public space design, management and use. Those barriers, physical and theoretical, are a threat to our communities in terms of access to basic needs; they are also an obstacle for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and its principles.

Serious Games as Positive Technologies

2019 ◽  
pp. 597-616
Author(s):  
Luca Argenton ◽  
Federica Pallavicini ◽  
Fabrizia Mantovani
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Serious Games ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Health And Well Being

Serious games are growing rapidly both as an industry and a field of academic research. They have been able to shape new opportunities for individual and collective learning and training, showing a discrete effectiveness. Further, serious games have been capable of supporting health and well-being. That is why they can be considered as positive technologies. Positive Technology is an emergent field whose goal is to investigate how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be used to empower the quality of personal experience The aim of the present chapter is to discuss the role of serious games as positive technology, analyzing how they can influence both individual and interpersonal experiences by fostering positive emotions, promoting engagement, as well as enhancing social integration and connectedness.

scholarly journals Indoor CO2: potential criticalities and solutions

2019 ◽  
Vol 290 ◽  
pp. 12026
Author(s):  
Marco Schiavon ◽  
Luca Adami ◽  
Elena Magaril ◽  
Marco Ragazzi
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Fossil Fuel Combustion ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Learning Capability ◽  
Indoor Spaces ◽  
Health And Well Being

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been conventionally regarded as a global problem, due to the well-known effects of fossil fuel combustion to the climate of our planet. However, this paper aims at highlighting the role of CO2 from another perspective, i.e. by considering the effects of CO2 on the health and well-being of the occupants of indoor spaces. The exposure to CO2 air concentrations > 1,000 ppm causes symptoms like headache, dizziness, sleepiness and loss of attention, which may negatively influence the learning capability and the productivity of students and workers. In this sense, schools and universities are particularly vulnerable, due to the high density of occupants in classrooms and to the importance of the role of education in training the future members of the society. In the light of this issue, the present paper will provide examples of the incorrect design of indoor environments and, meanwhile, will propose simple solutions to monitor the problem of indoor CO2 concentration and improve the indoor environmental quality of public places.

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