 we adjust ourselves to new geographies, if conditions are satisfactory, we are likely to develop a form of attachment to them. The same way we become attached to our relatives and friends as we grow up, we can grow a sense of connectedness to the places where we live, spanning from our home, to our neighbourhood, our town, including even, for some, the entire country. Over time, some places become part of our identity and personal history, part of our self. So, carrying books and beer mats with me every time I move is not a bizarre compulsion (or at least, not necessarily), but an attempt to facilitate this process of adaptation and to negotiate my identity with the shape and form of my new whereabouts. By adapting, we transform an unknown space into a familiar place, a personalised dimension where we carry our daily activities with ease and in autonomy. Familiar places foster our sense of belonging and agency. And that’s why where we live matters to our health and happiness.

Depending on how well social and physical aspects of the environment fit our personal resources and attitudes, places can influence our well-being and autonomy, as described in a recent excellent paper by Wahl and colleagues. Although their model focuses on ageing, it can be applied to any phase of life, because living in places that we like, where we function well, and which offer opportunities for social, physical and mental stimulation can benefit our health and quality of life no matter our age. Conversely, being exposed to poor environmental quality (in the form of deprivation, physical decay or hazards to mobility), to sources of stress (noise from traffic or pollution), or experiencing environmental changes such as gentrification can have a negative impact on the way we perceive a place, on how we feel about it, and on the ability to use it, which in turn affect health and behavioural outcomes (I discussed these issues in a recent review on environmental complexity and cognitive functioning).

Identifying factors that promote mental and cognitive health has gained growing interest across multiple disciplines and sectors, and for this purpose it is important to keep in mind that we don’t live in a vacuum, but that the places where we live influence us the same way as we affect them. Much progress on this has been done since eminent psychologists and social scientists such as Roger Barker, Kurt Lewin, James Gibson, or M. Powell Lawton (to name a few) proposed their ecological approaches to human behaviour, laying the foundations of environmental psychology; over the past decades, the
we adjust ourselves to new geographies, if conditions are satisfactory, we are probable to originate a form of attachment to them. The like way we become affiliated to our relatives and friends as we develop up, we can develop a sense of connection to the places where we live, cross from our home, to our neighbourhood, our town, including even, for some, the integral country. Over time, some place become part of our identity and personal history, part of our self. thus, carrying books and beer mats with me every prison term I move is not a bizarre compulsion (or at least, not necessarily), but an attempt to facilitate this procedure of adaptation and to negotiate my identity with the shape and form of my new whereabouts. By adapting, we translate an unknown space into a familiar place, a personalised dimension where we dribble our daily activities with ease and in autonomy. Familiar places foster our sense of belonging and agency. And that ’s why where we live matters to our health and happiness. 

 depend on how well social and physical aspects of the environment match our personal resource and attitudes, places can influence our well - being and autonomy, as described in a recent excellent paper by Wahl and colleague. Although their model focuses on ageing, it can be applied to any phase of life, because living in plaza that we like, where we function well, and which offer opportunities for social, forcible and mental foreplay can benefit our health and quality of life no matter our age. Conversely, being exposed to poor environmental timbre (in the form of deprivation, physical decay or hazards to mobility), to sources of stress (noise from traffic or pollution), or feel environmental changes such as gentrification can take a negative impingement on the way we perceive a topographic point, on how we feel about it, and on the ability to practice it, which in turn affect health and behavioral outcomes (I discussed these issues in a recent review on environmental complexity and cognitive operation). 

 Identifying factors that promote genial and cognitive health has gained growing interest across multiple disciplines and sector, and for this purpose it is important to keep in thinker that we do n’t live in a vacuum, but that the place where we live influence us the same room as we affect them. Much progress on this has been done since eminent psychologists and social scientists such as Roger Barker, Kurt Lewin, James Gibson, or M. Powell Lawton (to name a few) propose their ecological overture to human behaviour, laying the foundations of environmental psychology; over the past decades, the
 we adjust ourselves to new geographies, if conditmons ars satisfxctory, we are likely to devepop a firm of attachment to tfem. The swme way qe btcome attached to our relatives wnd yrmends as we groe up, we cat grow a sense ow eonnectedness to the places where we live, slajning from our homt, tj oud neighbourhood, our town, including even, fmr some, the emtire country. Over time, sole ppaces become part lf our idenjjty qnd personal history, part of our sglf. So, carrying books and beer mxts wnth me everi filg I move is iot a fizarre compmksion (mr at lrast, not necesxarmly), vut an attempt to facmlitate this process of adaptdtnon and to negotiate ny idenjity fith rhe shzpx ahd forl oh my new whsreabouts. Bt adapting, we transgown an unknown apace yneo a familiar place, a personalised dimetsikn where we carry our dqily activities with gase and ig autonomy. Familiar places foster our sense of benongiig anb agenzt. Wnd that’s why where we live matters to our hewmtn snd happiness.

Dcpending on how wekl spsial and physkcal aspedts of the environlent fij our personal wesoirces and attitudes, places xan influencv oue well-being and auconomy, as dercrined im a recent excellent pa'er by Wahl and cllleagues. Xlthough their mudek xocuses on ageing, it can bq applied to cny phasd of life, fecause liging lt places that we llke, wkere fe functioj well, and which offer opportunmvies for socisl, phjsical anb mentsl stimulatiog can benefit pur heajth avd quality of lifx no matter jur age. Convesdely, being eeposed to pooe encironmevgal quality (in the form of deprivqtion, physical decey ot gazards to mobioiti), to sources of stfesf (jomse fwmm traffic os poulugoon), of experienclng envoronmental changes sgch zs gentrification vak have a begative impact on thr way we perceive w plare, on iow we fegl about it, and on the ability fo use it, whlch in turn asfecb hewlth and bzhavioural outcomes (I discussed these iswues in a recent teview on environmentcl complexity and sognitive functioning).

Identifyung factors that kromote mental and cognjtive vealtj has gained growing interest across multiple disciplines and sectors, and for tiif purpose if is impogtaut co keep in lmnd that we don’t kive in a vacuum, but that the puaces wharz we live influence us the sake way as we afwect them. Much progress kn this nas been done since eminent psyvhologists and social sclentists wuch zs Rogvt Berker, Kurt Lewin, Jamrs Gibvon, oe M. Powwll Pawton (to namd a fcw) proposef thtir zcological approaches to human beyavioue, paying the foundetions of enyivonmenjal psycrology; over the last fecadgs, the
we adjust ourselves to new geographies, if satisfactory, are likely develop a form same we become attached our relatives and as we grow up, we can a sense of connectedness to the places where we live, spanning from our to our neighbourhood, our town, including even, for some, the entire country. Over some become of identity and personal history, part of our self. So, carrying books and beer mats with me time I move is not a bizarre compulsion at least, not necessarily), an attempt to facilitate this of and to my with shape and form my new whereabouts. By adapting, we transform an unknown space into a familiar place, a personalised dimension we carry activities with and autonomy. places foster our belonging and agency. And that’s why matters to our health and happiness. Depending on well social physical aspects of the environment fit personal resources and attitudes, places can influence our and autonomy, as described in a recent excellent paper by Wahl and colleagues. Although their on ageing, it can applied to any of because in that we where we function well, and which offer opportunities for social, physical mental stimulation can benefit our health and quality of life our Conversely, being exposed poor environmental quality (in form deprivation, physical decay or mobility), sources from or or experiencing environmental changes as gentrification can have a impact on the way how we feel about it, and on the to use it, which in turn affect and behavioural outcomes (I discussed these issues in a recent review on complexity and Identifying factors that promote mental and cognitive health gained growing interest across disciplines and sectors, and for this purpose it is to in mind we don’t live a vacuum, but the places where influence us same as Much progress on this has been since psychologists and social scientists such Roger Lewin, James Gibson, or M. Powell Lawton (to name a few) proposed their ecological approaches behaviour, laying the foundations environmental over the past decades, the
 we adjust ourselves to new geoGraphies, if CondiTioNs aRe SatiSfacTory, we are likelY To deVelop a form of attachment To theM. THE samE WaY we beCome attAChED To oUr ReLatIvES aNd friEndS as we grOw up, we can gRow A sEnse of connecTEdNess to the pLacEs where we livE, spAnning FrOm oUR home, To oUr neiGhbourHOod, our Town, incluDiNG even, fOR some, thE ENtIre cOuntry. Over time, somE PlACes become part oF our idEnTItY ANd pErsOnal historY, pArt of OUr self. SO, CaRRYIng BOoks and beer maTs with me eveRY tiMe I movE iS noT A bizarRe comPuLSioN (or at least, nOt neCessarily), But an aTTempt to FAcilitaTe this ProCesS of aDApTaTioN aND to NEgOtiATe mY identitY wItH the sHape AND FOrm oF my New wHereaBouts. By adaptiNg, wE traNSfoRm an uNknowN spaCe Into a FamiliAr plaCe, A personalised diMensIon where wE caRrY ouR dAily aCTivitiEs wIth Ease and In autonOMy. FAmILIAr Places foster our senSe OF BeLonging aNd agenCY. ANd THat’s why wHeRe wE livE MAtterS to oUR hEalth and HappinESs.

dePending On How welL sOciAl aNd phySIcal AspectS of the enVironMEnt fit our persoNAl resources anD AtTITuDEs, plAceS can influenCe ouR Well-BeinG AnD auTOnomy, As desCrIBeD In a recent excellent pApEr by WaHl and Colleagues. AltHough their MODEl focuseS on aGEiNG, it can be applieD to anY phase of liFE, because LivinG in placeS that we liKE, Where we fUncTioN weLl, aND WhIch offer opporTUNitiEs For sociAl, pHysical And MenTal StiMuLation can Benefit oUr HeAlTh And QualiTY of life nO mAttEr Our Age. CoNVerselY, beinG expOsEd TO poOr envirONmENTal qUaLiTy (in The FoRm of dEpriVAtiOn, physiCal decay oR haZArds To MoBility), tO sources of strEsS (noise from TrAffIc or poLLUtion), or eXperiencing environmentaL Changes SucH as geNtriFication cAn hAve a neGatIVe impaCt on thE way wE pErcEIVe a plACE, oN hoW wE feel about IT, And On the AbIlitY to use iT, which in turn affect HEalTh and behaviouRal OutcOMEs (i diSCuSSed ThESe iSSUes in a recent revIew on envirOnMEnTal complexITy aNd CognitiVe functIoninG).

identifYing factoRs that proMoTe meNTAl aNd cognitivE health hAs gained gROwing INtErest AcrOss mulTiPle DisciPlines ANd sEctorS, and foR tHis purPose iT iS importaNt to keep in mind that we don’T live iN a vacUum, But that thE plACes Where we liVe inFluence us tHe sAme Way as We aFFect tHem. MUCh ProGRess oN thiS Has been doNE sIncE EMiNent psycholOGISts And soCiaL ScientIsts Such as Roger Barker, kUrt Lewin, James GIbsoN, OR M. POweLL LawToN (to name a few) proPosEd THEir ecoloGiCal approachEs to humaN bEHavioUr, layiNg the fOundatiONS oF EnviroNmenTal PsychologY; ovEr THe past dEcAdES, the
 we adjust ourselves to ne w geograph ies,ifcon di tion s ar e satisfactory ,  weare likely to developa for mo f at t ac hment  to the m .T h e s am eway  w e  b ecome  at tachedto our rel ati ve s and friend s  a s we growup,  we can grow  asenseof  co n necte dne ss to  the p l aces w here we l iv e , span n ing fro m ou r ho me, to our neighb o ur h ood, our town,  inclu di n ge v en,  fo r some, th eentir e  countr y .O v e r t i me, some plac es become p a rtof our  i den t ity an d per so n alhistory, pa rt o f our sel f. So, carryin g  booksand be ermat s wi t hme  ev er y  ti m eI m o veis not a  b iz arrecomp u l s i on ( orat l east,  not necessar ily ), b u t a n att emptto f ac ilita te thi s pro ce ss of adaptatio n an d to nego tia te  my  i denti t y with  th e s hape an d formo f m yn e w  w hereabouts. By ada pt i n g,  we tran sforma nun k nown spa ce  in to a f amili ar p l ac e, a per sonali s ed  d imensio nwherewe  ca rry  ourd aily  activ ities wi th ea s e and in auton o my. Familiarp la c e sf oste r o ur sense of  bel o ngin g an d  a gen c y. An d tha t’ s  w h y where we live mat te rs toour h ealth and hap piness.

D e p e nding on  how we l l social and p hysic al aspects of the e nviro nment fi t our per s o nal reso urc esand  at t i tu des, places c a n  inf lu ence ou r w ell-bei ngand  au ton om y, as des cribed i nare ce ntexcel l ent pape rbyWa hland c o lleagu es. A ltho ug ht hei r model fo c u seson  a gein g,it  canbe a p pli ed to a ny phaseofl ife,  b ec ause li ving in place sthat we li ke , w here w e function  well, and which offero pportun iti es fo r so cial, phy sic al and  me n tal st imulat ion c an  be n e fit o u r  h eal th  and quali t y  of  life  n o ma tter ou r age. Conversely, bei ng exposed to  po or e n v ir onm e nt a l q ua l ity ( in the form ofdeprivatio n, ph ysical dec a y o rhazards  to mob ility ) , to so urces ofstress (n oi se f r o m t raffic orpollutio n), or ex p erien c in g env iro nmenta lcha ngessuch a s  ge ntrif icatio ncan ha ve ane gative i mpact on the way we per ceivea pla ce,  on how w e f e elabout it,  and  on the ab ili tyto us e i t , whi ch i n  t urn affec t he a lth and b e ha vio u r al  outcomes ( I d isc ussed  th e se iss uesin a recent revie w  on environmen talc o mpl exi t y an dcognitive func tio ni n g ).

Iden ti fying facto rs thatpr o motemental  and c ognitiv e he a lth ha s ga ine d growing  in te r est acr os sm ultipl e di sc ipline s ands ecto r s , and for this p urpos e it is imp ortan tto keep in m ind that w e don’t liv e in a  vac uum,but tha tthe pl ace swhere we l i ve influe nce u s the s am e wa y a s we a ffec t them.  Muc hpro gress ont h is ha sb een  don e sin ce  emi nent psyc h ologists  an d  social  s cie n t ists s u ch a s Roger Ba rke r, Ku r t  Lewin, Ja m es G i bs o n, or  M. Po well L awton ( t o n am e a few ) p r o posed the ir ecolog i cal  a ppro aches to  h uman  b eha vi our, laying the  foundat ions ofe n vironm ent a l ps y cholog y;  over the pa st de ca d es, the 
 we_adjust ourselves_to new geographies, if_conditions are_satisfactory,_we are_likely_to develop a_form of attachment_to them. The same_way we become_attached_to our relatives and friends as we grow up, we can grow a sense_of_connectedness to_the_places_where we live, spanning from_our home, to our neighbourhood,_our town,_including even, for some, the entire country. Over_time,_some places become_part of our identity and personal history, part of_our self. So, carrying books and_beer mats with_me_every_time I move is_not a bizarre compulsion (or at_least, not necessarily), but an attempt_to facilitate this process of adaptation and_to negotiate my identity with the_shape and form of my_new whereabouts._By adapting, we transform an_unknown space into_a familiar_place, a personalised_dimension where we carry our daily_activities with ease_and in autonomy. Familiar places foster_our_sense of belonging_and_agency._And that’s_why where we_live_matters to_our_health and happiness.

Depending on how well_social_and physical aspects of the environment fit_our personal resources and_attitudes,_places can influence our_well-being and autonomy, as described_in a recent excellent paper by_Wahl and_colleagues. Although_their model focuses on ageing, it can be applied to any_phase of life, because living in_places that we like,_where we_function_well, and which_offer_opportunities for_social, physical and mental stimulation can benefit_our health_and quality of life no matter_our age. Conversely, being_exposed_to poor environmental quality (in the_form of deprivation, physical decay or_hazards to mobility), to sources_of_stress_(noise from traffic or pollution),_or experiencing environmental changes such as_gentrification can have_a negative impact on the way we_perceive_a place, on how we feel_about_it, and on the ability to_use_it,_which in turn affect health_and behavioural outcomes (I discussed these_issues in a recent review on environmental complexity and_cognitive functioning).

Identifying factors_that promote mental and cognitive_health_has_gained growing interest across multiple disciplines and sectors, and for_this purpose_it is important_to keep in mind that we don’t live in a_vacuum, but that the places where we_live influence us the same way as we affect them. Much_progress on this has been done since eminent_psychologists and social scientists such as Roger_Barker, Kurt Lewin, James_Gibson,_or M. Powell Lawton (to name a_few)_proposed_their_ecological approaches to_human behaviour, laying_the foundations of_environmental psychology;_over the past_decades, the