This text is part of the special Research section
Particularly affected by their urban environment, adolescents and young adults are rarely included in studies and the design of solutions. Through research at the intersection of health, urban planning and sociology, researchers at the University of Sherbrooke are trying to include them in the equation.
There are many studies demonstrating the links between the urban environment and people’s physical and mental health, observes Martine Shareck, professor of community health sciences and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Equity in Urban Health and young people at the University of Sherbrooke. The chair aims to generate knowledge on interventions related to the creation of healthy, equitable, inclusive and sustainable urban environments, while promoting the health of young people, particularly those who are marginalized.
Various factors can have an impact on people’s physical and mental health, such as the presence of local shops, access to and distribution of green spaces, cycle paths, transport, services or employment in the city. , noise or the feeling of security. “The simple fact of being surrounded by greenery can have the effect of promoting mental health and well-being,” observes Martine Shareck. They are also meeting places for young people, who do not necessarily have a lot of money to spend, it can influence their socialization and their well-being. »
“We are at a stage where we can rebuild better and fairly,” continues the researcher. There are equity issues related to the spatial distribution, accessibility and use of urban resources, and this can lead to social inequalities in health. Young people are a special group, with specific characteristics that must be taken into account in the planning and development of municipalities, but few studies have focused on this age group. We are here to inform cities about the changes to be made. »
The links between cities and health
But how to study the effects of the urban environment on the well-being and health of young people? To conduct a study, Martine Shareck and her team are taking advantage of a major revitalization of downtown Sherbrooke. New projects have been set in motion in this city in the Eastern Townships, including the construction of a building that will bring together businesses in the field of information technology, the establishment of a hub creative in the Plymouth-Trinity Church and marketing initiatives to develop the town center brand and promote local businesses.
To understand the effects of this revitalization on young people, Martine Shareck’s team developed a questionnaire, to which 1,450 young people aged 16 to 30 answered before the start of construction work. The researchers will again survey the same young people two or three times during and after the revitalization, on the perception of their environment and their state of health. Researchers will thus be able to compare survey responses before and after the work and combine the results with more qualitative approaches, such as individual interviews.
“In research, we have partners, community organizations, representatives of different groups of young people who help us develop our research questions, our collection tools and the interpretation of results,” says Ms.me Shareck. She adds that they try to take into account as much as possible the diversity of profiles and opinions within the groups of young people.
In the same spirit, the researcher is involved in a participatory project with secondary school students led by psychoeducation teacher Anne-Marie Tougas. As part of this Photovoice project, which begins this fall, participating students will be invited to take photographs of elements of their high school that influence their mental health in a positive way, and to discuss the photographs as a group.
“We try to put the participants in the ‘driver’s seat’, they take photos, they do interviews,” explains M.me Shareck. In its projects, the Research Chair gives young people a voice in what concerns them. “Young people have been blamed a lot in connection with the transmission [de la COVID], they have suffered a lot from school at home, from teleworking, it is important to include them in the search for solutions. »