Impact of urban and cultural landscape heritage on mental health: a systematic review and meta-synthesis

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to understand how urban and cultural landscape heritage impact individual mental health, as well as the mechanisms through which these influences operate, by synthesizing existing published qualitative data. METHOD: This paper employs systematic review and meta-synthesis to extensively collect and evaluate relevant literature. A total of 30 papers met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using thematic synthesis. Through line-by-line coding, descriptive themes were identified, and the coded texts were summarized and categorized to provide evidence for thematic analysis. The study explores the mechanisms and effects produced by individuals participating in heritage environment interventions in non-clinical settings. The study protocol has been registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42024535811. RESULTS: The research proposes a heritage healing conceptual model, comprising three themes and 14 intervention elements: (a) restorative effects of nature and environment; (b) spiritual and religious practices; (c) culture, community, and identity. This model demonstrates the synergistic pathways through which heritage healing operates in mental health interventions, emphasizing the central role of heritage in promoting psychological well-being through a combination of natural environments, spiritual practices, and sociocultural factors. CONCLUSION: The heritage healing conceptual model offers an innovative combination approach to therapy, forming a multidimensional therapeutic network. The findings reveal the key role of heritage healing in mental health interventions, particularly by enhancing individual connections with nature and cultural heritage to foster psychological recovery and emotional stability. Furthermore, participating in cultural activities and savoring the aesthetic beauty and tranquility of historical environments allows people to alleviate the psychological burdens brought about by fast-paced urban life while strengthening connections among community members. It provides new perspectives for designing effective mental health intervention strategies, suggesting that public health policies should pay more attention to integrating and popularizing non-medication intervention measures.