The effects on neighborhood environments during lockdowns: being comfortable in residences

Yasmeen Gul*, Gul Ahmed Jokhio, Zahid Sultan, John Alexander Smith, Wan Saiful Nizam, Mehdi Moeinaddini, Dalia Hafiz, Letizia Materassi (Editor), Andrea Guazzini (Editor), Mirko Duradoni (Editor), Guglielmo Bonaccorsi (Editor), Chiara Lorini (Editor)

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Cities around the world have been hit by the COVID-19 crisis. The worst consequences of the pandemic are closely related to urban areas. Many studies investigated the impact of COVID-19 on people but there are few studies that have investigated the satisfaction level of university students during the COVID-19 lockdown at the neighborhood level. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the satisfaction of university students at the neighborhood level during the COVID-19 lockdown and investigate the experience of online education during that period—if they received any. An online survey was conducted involving university students of different countries, and a total of 427 responses (n = 427) were received and analyzed using the CHAID model. Results show that comfort at residences during the COVID-19 lockdown was affected by the neighborhood environment (viz., greenery, pleasant views, independent housing with gardening facilities), transportation (i.e., saving 1–2 commuting hours on a daily basis and safety from traffic hazards), and the provision of online education (i.e., effectiveness, such as traditional methods of education and the opportunity to connect with field experts). Thus, it can be concluded that providing green neighborhoods, detached or terraced houses (townhouses) with visual connection, and gardening facilities for the residents should be encouraged in the future because these types of neighborhoods are not only comfortable in ordinary situations but also provide comfort during critical periods such as COVID-19 lockdowns. It can also be concluded that a hybrid style of education should be encouraged for universities, as it can save travel time, provide safety from traffic, and provide more opportunities to become connected with international experts through online guest lectures, seminars, and workshops.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1635-1649
Number of pages15
JournalCOVID
Volume2
Issue number12
Early online date24 Nov 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Dec 2022

Keywords

  • Article
  • COVID-19 lockdown
  • neighborhood environment
  • housing type
  • online education
  • travel time

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