CITY AND MENTAL HEALTH: EXAMINING MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS OF URBAN STRESSORS - A CASE OF OFFICE WORKERS IN POST-INDUSTRIAL ASIAN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

Abstract

Over the past several decades, Asia has generally observed immense urbanization and economic success, followed by the pressure to remain competitive by moving on from secondary industries into tertiary and quaternary sectors. This has exerted tremendous physical and psychological pressure on urban dwellers as they take up the responsibility as major income-earning labour force. This dissertation thus highlights the importance of the mental and psychological aspect of urban design by reviewing various literature. To support the argument with practical evidence, a case study research was conducted so as to derive to a holistic urban conceptual framework that identifies predominant stressors and to what degree they affect mental health, as well as realizing restorative factors and elements that promote mental healing and well-being. This framework is hopefully useful in future design of urban settings that advocate mental health of urban inhabitants.