Understanding urbanicity: how interdisciplinary methods help to unravel the effects of the city on mental health

Psychol Med. 2021 May;51(7):1099-1110. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720000355. Epub 2020 Mar 11.

Abstract

Twenty-first century urbanization poses increasing challenges for mental health. Epidemiological studies have shown that mental health problems often accumulate in urban areas, compared to rural areas, and suggested possible underlying causes associated with the social and physical urban environments. Emerging work indicates complex urban effects that depend on many individual and contextual factors at the neighbourhood and country level and novel experimental work is starting to dissect potential underlying mechanisms. This review summarizes findings from epidemiology and population-based studies, neuroscience, experimental and experience-based research and illustrates how a combined approach can move the field towards an increased understanding of the urbanicity-mental health nexus.

Keywords: Experience-based research; experimental research; mental health; neuroimaging; review; urban environment; urban upbringing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cities
  • Humans
  • Mental Health*
  • Risk Factors
  • Urban Population*
  • Urbanization*