Built environment effects on the physical activity and mental well-being of young women in the Balkans

Introduction: While physical activity is widely recognized as a key factor
in physical and mental health, the impact of subjective and objective built
environment characteristics on well-being across different population groups
remains understudied. This gap is particularly evident among specifc ethnic
groups and genders, as most such studies focus on populations from Western
and high-income countries. The primary objective of this paper is to assess the
associations between various built environment characteristics, including both
objective and subjective features, with the levels of physical activity and the
well-being of young women in the Balkans.
Methods: To achieve this, a questionnaire survey was designed and implemented
in fve cities in the Balkans: Niš (Serbia), Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Athens (Greece),
Bucharest (Romania), and Štip (North Macedonia), targeting the sub-population
of young women. Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) modelling was employed to
identify the subjective and objective built environment characteristics that affect
engagement in moderate and vigorous physical activity and well-being.
Results: Findings of this paper show that a high level of street connectivity
is associated with a higher level of moderate and vigorous physical activity.
Additionally, there is a signifcant association between exciting green spaces in
the neighborhood, proximity to shops, mixed land-use neighborhoods, cycling
infrastructure, and higher levels of physical activity and well-being.
Discussion: These results suggest that inclusive urban planning strategies could
play a key role in improving public health outcomes for this underrepresented
demographic