ENVIRONMENT & SURROUNDINGS
The Environment & Surroundings domain refers to the physical, social, and cultural spaces we live in and interact with daily. It encompasses access to natural areas, quality housing, community safety, and cultural resources, all of which influence our health, well-being, and sense of belonging.
Featured Articles & Research
Physical Environment
Our physical environment includes natural elements like clean air, water, green spaces, and sunlight, which are required for our overall health and well-being. It also involves the quality of our housing, infrastructure, and access to essential resources, along with minimizing our exposure to toxins, pollution, and noise.
Environmental Health Perspectives Journal
The NIH is the largest biomedical research agency in the world and is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its Environmental Health Perspectives journal is peer-reviewed and publishes cutting-edge research on environmental factors and health, making it a trusted source for scientifically validated findings in the field of environmental health.
Health and the Environment: Addressing the Health Impacts of Air Pollution, Climate Change, and Natural Spaces
The WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. It sets global health standards, provides data-driven guidelines, and conducts research based on extensive, peer-reviewed studies. Its publications are regarded as highly reliable, especially in the areas of health and environmental interactions.
Effects of the Physical Environment of Mental Health and Well-Being
Newport Institute is a nationwide treatment center dedicated to helping young adults up to age 35 overcome mental health challenges, co-occurring disorders, and life transitions through evidence-based care and family support. Their article highlights the profound impact of physical environments on mental health, emphasizing how factors like clutter, natural light, and surroundings influence mood, stress levels, and overall well-being.
Healthy Places
The CDC is a leading U.S. federal agency dedicated to public health, disease prevention, and health research. Known for its evidence-based approach, the CDC’s guidelines and initiatives, such as Healthy Places, are rooted in comprehensive studies and data that directly inform policy and public health practices.
Healthy Buildings Program
Harvard University is a globally renowned institution, and its T.H. Chan School of Public Health is highly regarded for research in public health and policy. The Healthy Buildings Program is grounded in extensive scientific study and cross-disciplinary research, providing valuable insights into how environmental design impacts our physical and mental well-being.
Social Environment
Our social environment encompasses community relationships that foster belonging, safety, and support, shaped by inclusivity, diversity, and social cohesion. It also involves social equity, ensuring fair access to resources and opportunities for all individuals, regardless of identity factors.
Social Determinants of Health
The WHO provides global guidance on health matters, focusing on social determinants like community safety, social support, and equity. Its research is globally respected, as WHO works with a vast network of researchers, policymakers, and public health experts to produce rigorous, peer-reviewed data on health impacts.
Impact of Social Environment on Mental Health
The APA is a respected authority in the field of psychology, with publications based on peer-reviewed research. The organization’s resources on social factors and mental health are written by psychologists and other experts, making them reliable for understanding the psychological effects of social environments.
Social Environment and Health Research Program
The NIH is the premier biomedical research agency in the U.S., and its research on social environments examines how factors like social cohesion, support, and inequity affect health. The NIH’s peer-reviewed studies are widely respected in the scientific community for their rigorous standards and contributions to health research.
Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity
As the leading public health agency in the U.S., the CDC’s insights on social determinants are derived from extensive research and data collection. Its reports and guidelines are evidence-based and help shape public health policy, making it a trusted source for understanding how social environments influence health.
Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health
Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health conducts cutting-edge research on public health issues, including how social environments impact well-being. Harvard’s interdisciplinary approach and commitment to research excellence make it a leading source for evidence-based insights into the health effects of social factors.
Economic Environment
The economic environment includes economic stability, encompassing job opportunities, employment rates, cost of living, and access to public resources. It also covers infrastructure quality, such as reliable transportation, utilities, and affordable housing.
Improving Health Through Stable Housing and Employment
The APHA provides research and resources on how economic factors like stable employment and quality housing influence our health and well-being, highlighting the interconnectedness of the economy and our health.
The Economics of Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequities
This WHO report outlines how economic stability, access to resources, and infrastructure affect health outcomes, emphasizing the role of economic conditions in shaping well-being.
Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity
This publication examines how economic factors like poverty, access to employment, and infrastructure quality affect health equity, with a focus on building economic conditions that support health for all.
Social Determinants of Health: Economic Stability
The CDC details how economic stability, including employment, housing security, and resource availability, impacts physical and mental health.
How Does Employment, Income, and Wealth Affect Health
The RWJF explores the ways that income, employment quality, and economic access contribute to health disparities, particularly how economic resources impact quality of life and longevity.
Cultural Environment
Our cultural environment includes norms, values, and shared practices that shape our lifestyles and social expectations within our communities. It also involves access to cultural resources like museums, art centers, and community events, which support our personal and cultural identity.
Cultural Contexts of Health: The Use of Narrative Research in the Health Sector
This WHO report highlights how cultural norms, values, and resources shape health behaviors, access to care, and overall well-being, providing insights into the health impacts of cultural environments.
How Does Culture Affect Health?
The RWJF provides resources on how cultural factors—such as norms, values, and community activities—affect well-being and shape health disparities, stressing the importance of cultural environments in public health.
Culture, Health, and Well-Being
The NIH research explores how cultural contexts, including community practices and access to cultural spaces, influence both physical and mental health, with a focus on culturally responsive care.
Health Equity and Cultural Competence
The CDC examines the role of cultural understanding and inclusivity in health outcomes, noting how cultural values and access to cultural resources impact community health and individual well-being.
How Culture Influences Health Beliefs and Practices
This APA articles discuss how cultural norms and identity shape health behaviors, coping strategies, and access to health resources, emphasizing the psychological impacts of cultural environments on health.
Safety & Security
Safety and security involve the levels of crime, violence, and other safety concerns in our communities. It also includes disaster resilience, encompassing preparedness for environmental or man-made disasters and access to emergency services.
Social Determinants of Health: Violence and Injury Prevention
This WHO report explores how the presence of violence and crime, as well as disaster resilience, directly impact our physical and mental health outcomes, with a focus on the importance of safety for our overall well-being.
The Role of Safety in Mental Health
The NIMH discusses how safety and security concerns, including crime and natural disasters, influence our mental health by increasing our stress, anxiety, and trauma, and how safe environments contribute to better mental well-being.
How Safety Affects Health and Well-Being
The APA explores the psychological effects of living in unsafe environments, linking crime rates and disaster risks to stress, anxiety, and decreased quality of life.
The Impact of Safe Communities on Health
The RWJF’s research highlights how safer communities, with lower crime rates and better disaster preparedness, lead to improved physical and mental health by fostering a sense of security and well-being.
The Impact of Crime on Health and Well-Being
The CDC examines how crime rates, violence, and insecurity affect our health outcomes, including chronic stress, trauma, and our overall community health.