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How places affect well-being
This free course looks at how where people live affects their well-being. This includes the kind of neighbourhood people live in, how places are organised and run, as well as the detail of the layout of buildings. You will learn about some of the ways that psychologists explain the links between places and well-being. This includes some of the ways places might make it easier or harder to have good relationships, to have contact with nature, to feel relaxed and restored, and to feel valued and have power.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- describe features of buildings that have been shown to impact people's well-being
- describe features of cities and neighbourhoods that have been shown to impact people's well-being
- outline some psychological mechanisms thought to be important in linking people's environments and their experiences of well-being
- outline some of the considerations for designing and planning places to enhance people's well-being.
First Published: 06/05/2026
Updated: 06/05/2026
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