An Investigation into the relationship between visual greenery of urban canal environment and emotional well-being of teenagers in low-income settlements

Abstract

Urban canal areas, especially in low-income settlements, frequently suffer from inadequate design, which affects the emotional health of teenagers, a demographic that is especially vulnerable to emotional challenges. This study explores how design parameters, such as the density of visual greenery, spatial greenery distribution, and blue-green integration along canal waterfronts, can influence eudaemonic and hedonic emotional well-being and the quality of life for teenagers in these areas. The study, conducted with 40 teenagers living in low-income settlements near canal environments, examined five visual scenarios with varying green coverage ratios (low and high) and greenery distribution (continuous and patchy) using 3D simulations and virtual methods to enhance participants' understanding. High outdoor greenery, regardless of distribution type, is more beneficial than low greenery. The best scenario for psychological well-being is high greenery with a continuous distribution, resulting in very high well-being levels. This setup fosters selfsatisfaction, positive feelings, optimism, vitality, and autonomy, affecting both hedonic and eudaemonic well-being. In contrast, conditions with no greenery are the least beneficial. These findings offer valuable recommendations for landscape architects, architects, and urban planners to prioritize emotional well-being and create child-friendly, therapeutic landscapes in outdoor canal environments.