2025/10/02 by Josephine Y. Chau, Taylah Scutts, David Morrisey +5 · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Health disparities and outcomes #Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies #Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/23748834.2025.2553259
openalex publication_date 2025/10/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Local governments in Sydney, Australia, are required to increase housing density, diversity and choice to accommodate population growth. While urban densification is a common strategy for dealing with population growth, residents’ perceptions of its impacts on health and wellbeing remain underexplored. The Highs and Lows Project explored experiences of residents in higher density communities regarding perceived health and wellbeing. This cross-sectional study involved mixed methods and a citizen science approach. Residents of medium and high-density households in Northern Sydney Local Health District were invited to submit texts and photos about features of their dwelling, building or neighbourhood that impacted their health and wellbeing. A debrief was held with residents and local government stakeholders to discuss results interpretation. Fifty-nine residents submitted a total of 283 texts or photos. Perceived facilitators of health and wellbeing included access to diverse amenities, public and shared outdoor spaces; walkability; a sense of community; intergenerational appeal; adequate indoor space; and accessibility. Perceived barriers included pollution; building design features that limited social interactions; and safety hazards. Future densification policies and actions should consider the features valued by residents with lived experience of higher density areas, which will require intersectoral collaboration for creating healthy higher density environments.