Urban densification in the Netherlands and its impact on mental health: An expert-based causal loop diagram

Mariëlle A Beenackers; Hanneke Kruize; Lisa Barsties; Annelies Acda; Ingrid Bakker; Mariël Droomers; Carlijn B M Kamphuis; Eric Koomen; Jeannette E Nijkamp; Lenneke Vaandrager; Beate Völker; Guus Luijben; Annemarie Ruijsbroek

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103218

Urban densification in the Netherlands and its impact on mental health: An expert-based causal loop diagram

Health Place. 2024 Apr 1:87:103218. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103218. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.beenackers@erasmusmc.nl.
² National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: hanneke.kruize@rivm.nl.
³ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands. Electronic address: lisa.barsties@rivm.nl.
⁴ Annelies Acda Advies - public health, policy and the built environment, Bussum, the Netherlands. Electronic address: annelies@anneliesacda.nl.
⁵ Department of Urban Innovation, Research Centre of Social Innovations Flevoland, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Almere, the Netherlands. Electronic address: i.bakker@windesheim.nl.
⁶ Department of Public Health, City of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.droomers@utrecht.nl.
⁷ Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: c.b.m.kamphuis@uu.nl.
⁸ Department of Spatial Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: e.koomen@vu.nl.
⁹ Department of Healthy Cities, Research Centre for Built Environment NoorderRuimte, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: j.e.nijkamp@pl.hanze.nl.
¹⁰ Health and Society, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: lenneke.vaandrager@wur.nl.
¹¹ Department Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Netherlands Centre for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address: bvolker@nscr.nl.
¹² National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands. Electronic address: guus.luijben@rivm.nl.
¹³ National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands. Electronic address: annemarie.ruijsbroek@rivm.nl.

PMID: 38564990
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103218

Abstract

Urban densification is a key strategy to accommodate rapid urban population growth, but emerging evidence suggests serious risks of urban densification for individuals' mental health. To better understand the complex pathways from urban densification to mental health, we integrated interdisciplinary expert knowledge in a causal loop diagram via group model building techniques. Six subsystems were identified: five subsystems describing mechanisms on how changes in the urban system caused by urban densification may impact mental health, and one showing how changes in mental health may alter urban densification. The new insights can help to develop resilient, healthier cities for all.

Keywords: Complex systems approach; Group model building; Inequality; Mental health; Population density.