Application of ART and SRT Theories to Revitalize Riverine Landscapes with a Mental Health Improvement Approach (Case Study: Qeshlaq River, Sanandaj

Nowadays, the increasing pressure of urbanization and the diversity of social preferences have led to the loss of human peace and the disconnection between man and nature. One of the ways to reconnect people with nature is to pay more attention to green and blue spaces (rivers, streams, and green areas) through planned architectural and urban design solutions. Therefore, this study aims to determine the relationship between nature (view and access to nature) and Sanandji citizens’ mental health and use ART and SRT theories to find a solution to revitalize the landscape of the Qeshlaq River. The current research is based on the nature of practical objectives and follows a quantitative-qualitative approach. According to the research objectives, 254 questionnaires, including scales of contact time, frequency of visits, and the short form of mental health scale (WHO-5), were distributed to the target population in two periods based on the available population samples. In addition to the questionnaire, a structured interview was used to substantiate the results of the questionnaire and to highlight the problems of the Qeshlaq River environment. To analyze the data according to the type of variables, statistical tests were used in SPSS software version 27. The results of this study showed a significant but inverse relationship between the contact time/frequency of visits and the level of mental health. The most common reasons cited were lack of amenities and services, environmental issues, and lack of access to riverscapes. However, the relationship between mental health and access to nature was significant and positive. Finally, the results of this study provide guidelines for revitalizing riverscapes using two theories, ART and SRT.