Residential neighbourhoods, nearby nature and quality of life

The chapter focuses on the associations between nearby nature both as a physical feature of neighbourhoods and an evolutionary need that impact people’s preferences, satisfaction, use patterns and well-being, all as interrelated indicators of quality of life in residential areas. The chapter begins with an overview of the literature on these topics, and then presents empirical findings from a multifaceted study that examined these factors in residential neighbourhoods of Chicago, Illinois. The findings highlight the bidirectional associations between neighbourhood satisfaction and use patterns, the associations between perceived nearby nature, neighbourhood satisfaction, and use, and finally, the mediating role of neighbourhood satisfaction and use patterns in the association between perceived nearby nature and well-being. The closing section discusses the practicality of the suggested approach for planners, urban designers and policymakers who could apply such research findings to create more liveable neighbourhoods that contribute to people’s well-being and quality of life.