How urban street views shape mood: feeling visually trapped by tall buildings and seeing streets dominated by cars are strongly linked to higher depression perception scores

New research reveals how city street features like greenery and traffic can influence mental state. A study by Nan Zhang and colleagues used AI to analyze 133,114 street view images from Wuhan, China, and identified six key visual elements that impact depression perception. Streets with more greenery, open sky, and pedestrian activity were linked to lower depression perception scores, while high traffic and enclosed spaces were linked to higher scores. The findings suggest that urban planning can be used to improve mental health by prioritizing elements that foster positive emotional experiences.