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As part of this course, health promotion strategies have been discussed, and a particular focus has been placed on the relationship between public health and the environment. The article The relationship between social cohesion and urban green space: An avenue for health promotion examines the impact of urban green spaces on the health behavior of citizens, which positively affects their psychological and physiological well-being (Jennings & Bamkole, 2019). The authors pay special attention to social cohesion as a factor of public health. Jennings and Bamkole (2019) conclude that increased social cohesion is positively associated with the psychological well-being of individuals. This factor can also “support health-related behaviors such as decreased smoking, less alcohol consumption, and increased use of preventative healthcare services” (Jennings & Bamkole, 2019, p. 3). On the contrary, socially isolated citizens are subject to greater stress, risk of depression, and cardiovascular disease. Social capital, that is, social networking and trust, is also an important health determinant. In particular, people less involved in social interactions tend to report poorer health outcomes (Jennings & Bamkole, 2019). In addition, residents of urban areas are susceptible to more stressors, which can also be associated with a negative impact on health.
The article also emphasizes that the context of place has a significant role in health promotion among urban residents. Social relationships can influence public health through “social engagement, social support (e.g., perceived and actual), social influence (e.g., developing norms), access to information, and increased contact with others” (Jennings & Bamkole, 2019, p. 3). Urban green spaces can be drivers of social networking and, as a consequence of cohesion. Additionally, they can promote increased physical activity and health behaviors. It is also important that urban green spaces as environmental factors are positively associated with a reduction in the level of stress (Jennings & Bamkole, 2019). The course also discussed determinants of health, among which factors such as mental health and environmental quality were noted. Thus, urban green spaces are directly related to health promotion strategies, as they allow improving psychological well-being, stimulating health behaviors through the aspects of the environment.
The main implication of the content of the article is the exploration of how urban green spaces affect public health promotion. In particular, the authors, through the theory of social cohesion and capital, explain the potential positive effects of these objects of the urban environment on both psychological and physical health. Significantly, at the community level, urban green spaces can also serve as means of intersection for different social and ethnic groups. This aspect also has an indirect positive effect on health promotion as it reduces social tension and associated stress. The article describes in sufficient detail both the features of urban green spaces and their relation to the health behaviors of citizens. However, the authors draw on theoretical evidence, focusing on examining research literature on social cohesion and capital. At the same time, the main flaw of the article may be the lack of empirical data that would be based on actual observations. It would be informative to utderstand how green spaces affect health promotion in practice. However, the authors indicate this direction of research in the future research section.
The authors could make the article better by doing at least a small but empirical study of one of the communities. As part of this experiment, they could explore the association between health promotion and urban green spaces. This could even be done by collecting quality data from the community. At the moment, the article, while providing important insights into the role of the urban environment on the health of citizens, provides an overview of the existing literature. Additionally, the focus on green space as a factor in social cohesion and social capital has not been fully disclosed. It would be better if the authors paid increased attention to the discussion of the direct relationship between environment and health, while determinants such as social cohesion, as well as social capital, could act as secondary.
The authors have provided quite comprehensive information on the relationship between the discussed concepts and health promotion. At the same time, information about which strategies and interventions in the context of the environment are used is probably missing. It would be helpful to learn about how existing organizations and governments are currently using different elements of the health promotion environment if this happens. In particular, the authors could expand the results presented in the article by discussing real or potential strategies. At the moment, the research lacks practical implications that could form the basis of health promotion. The article offers a fairly detailed theoretical framework but does not consider how it can be implemented in practice. Thus, the article contributes to knowledge of the relationship between the environment and health promotion rather than suggesting the design of specific interventions.
The article certainly has a connection with both my professional and personal life. First of all, I, as all urban residents, am part of the urban community. In this regard, it is important for me that the environment in which I live contributes to my health. The concepts presented in the article helped me to look differently at my daily life and think about my place in the community. Primarily, I consider my interaction within it and its influence on the development of the environment around me. I can probably experience increased stress due to the lack of relationships with both community members and the environment. Thus, I should pay increased attention to the development of my social networking. It is also important that I was also interested in further research on the role of urbanism in health promotion.
In terms of professional activity, as a specialist in the field of public health, after reading the article, I realize the importance of a holistic approach to health. As discussed in the course, the different areas of health are interrelated, which is well illustrated with social cohesion and capital. Such a link between proud green spaces, social interaction, and health outcomes is not obvious. Thus, for me, as a professional, it is important to realize how multifaceted factors are determinants of public health and what mechanisms lead to various influences. In particular, it was useful for me to find out exactly how the environment can affect human health and what factors matter. The correlation between the extent of social cohesion and possible stress was the most important insight for me. Professionals often talk about the importance of communicating with loved ones when discussing psychological health support. However, too little attention is paid to the position of a person within the community and social azimuth as the basis of psychological well-being.
Reference
Jennings, V., & Bamkole, O. (2019). The relationship between social cohesion and urban green space: An avenue for health promotion.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(3), 1-14.
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