+91-9561854529 editorinchief.ijama@gmail.com submitpaper@ijama.in Contact Form

Biophilic Urbanism and the Psychological Impact of Green Spaces on Urban Social Cohesion

Author(s):Siddharth Mukherjee, Kavya Sundaram, Ishwar Dayal, Zoya Qureshi

Affiliation: Faculty of Social Sciences, Banaras Hindu University Department of Sociology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Page No: 37-41

Volume issue & Publishing Year: Volume 3, Issue 2, Feb 2026

published on: 2022/02/24

Journal: International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Application.(IJAMA)

ISSN NO: 3048-9350

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18780070

Download PDF

Article Indexing:

Abstract:
As global populations increasingly concentrate in hyper-urbanized environments, the psychological disconnect from natural landscapes has become a significant public health concern. This research explores the concept of Biophilic Urbanism—the strategic integration of natural elements into city planning—and its specific impact on community mental health and social cohesion. By conducting a comparative analysis of three distinct residential districts, the study evaluates how access to "High-Quality Green Spaces" (HQGS) influences stress levels, perceived loneliness, and neighborly trust. Our findings, based on physiological markers (cortisol levels) and psychometric surveys from 1,200 residents, indicate that proximity to integrated natural environments reduces chronic stress by 25% and significantly increases "Social Capital" scores. The paper argues that green infrastructure is not merely an aesthetic choice but a fundamental psychological necessity. We propose a "Psychologically Informed Urban Design" framework to mitigate the negative mental health outcomes of urban density in the late 2020s.

Keywords: Environmental Psychology, Biophilic Urbanism, Social Cohesion, Urban Density, Mental Health, Green Infrastructure, Social Capital, Restorative Environments, Attention Restoration Theory, Urban Stress Syndrome, Public Health, Sensory Overload, Community Resilience, Biophilic Design, Nature Deficit Disorder

Reference:

  • [1] S. Mukherjee and K. Sundaram, "Cortisol Rhythms and the Biophilic Gradient: A Study of Three Indian Metropolises," Indian Journal of Environmental Psychology, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 12–29, Jan. 2026.
  • [2] I. Dayal, "The Grey Desert: Mapping Mental Health Inequity in High-Density Urban Clusters," Social Science Review, vol. 15, pp. 105–120, Nov. 2025.
  • [3] Z. Qureshi, "Neuro-Urbanism and the Impact of Blank Walls on Social Avoidance," Urban Sociology Quarterly, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 45–62, Sept. 2025.
  • [4] P. Sethi, "Attention Restoration Theory in the Age of Digital Sensory Overload," Psychological Perspectives, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 88–104, June 2025.
  • [5] R. Gupta, "Green View Index: A New Metric for Public Health Planning," Journal of Urban Planning and Architecture, vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 210–225, Oct. 2025.
  • [6] A. Khanna, "Biophilia and the Evolutionary Brain: Why We Need Nature," Evolutionary Psychology Today, vol. 14, pp. 67–82, Feb. 2025.
  • [7] M. Varma, "Third Places and the Role of Pocket Parks in Community Building," Sociology of Space, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 33–48, Jan. 2026.
  • [8] K. Nair, "Acoustic Stress and the Buffer Effect of Vertical Forests," Environmental Health Reports, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 115–130, May 2024.
  • [9] L. Singh, "Gentrification of the Mind: The Commercialization of Green Spaces," Urban Studies Journal, vol. 8, pp. 200–214, Apr. 2025.
  • [10] N. Joshi, "Measuring Diurnal Cortisol Slopes in Urban Environments," Journal of Biological Psychology, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 102–118, Dec. 2025.
  • [11] M. Kulkarni, "The Evolution of Indian Urban Design 2020-2026," Historical Planning Review, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 10–25, Jan. 2026.
  • [12] R. Bansal, "Soft Edges and Approach Behavior: An Ethological Study of Public Squares," Human Behavior and Design, vol. 12, pp. 5–15, July 2024.
  • [13] S. Verma, "Vertical Forests and the Mitigation of Urban Heat Islands," Sustainability and Climate Change, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 77–85, Oct. 2025.
  • [14] D. Kapoor, "Neighborly Trust and its Correlation with Local Canopy Cover," Community Psychology Review, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 122–135, June 2025.
  • [15] C. Menon, "Designing for the Human Spirit: Future Directions in Biophilic Urbanism," Global Architecture and Society, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 30–42, Jan. 2026.