Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Living in Industrial Areas: Social Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Handbook of Environmental Psychology and Quality of Life Research

Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life ((IHQL))

  • 4173 Accesses

Abstract

The construction of an industrial installation is frequently associated with important social impacts that influence the quality of life of nearby residents in different ways. The most obvious and well-documented are a decreased quality of the environment (noise, air pollution, dust and odors), which affects the level of stress, and both physical and mental health. However, other significant impacts are associated with a change in the meaning of the environment (for example with increased risk), with a symbolic threat to the identity of local communities or the change in the use of public spaces (with fewer social activities) and the reduction of green, restorative areas.

In this chapter, we assume the theoretical perspective of quality of life proposed by Moser (2009), valuing person-environment congruity as a key aspect of individuals’ perceptions of their environments. People-environment congruity is the “interrelation between the individual and his or her (especially residential) environment, considering the match between individual life satisfaction and objective standards of living” (p. 351). After the description of the above-mentioned impacts on the quality of life of the residents, this chapter develops their adaptation to these environmental changes.

The final part of this chapter focuses on some psychosocial variables that can moderate the impacts of this environmental change on the quality of life of residents. In particular, the importance of a more participative and inclusive approach to the changes in the landscape is stressed (Lima et al. 2012).

“From an individual point of view, a high quality of life in the context of sustainability might be best characterized by a people-environment congruity”

(Moser 2009, p. 351)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Babisch, W., & Kim, R. (2011). Traffic noise exposure and ischaemic heart disease. In M. Braubach, D. E. Jacobs, & D. Ormandy (Eds.), Environmental burden of disease associated with inadequate housing. Methods for quantifying health impacts of selected housing risks in the WHO European Region (pp. 97–111). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Basner, M., Griefahn, B., & Berg, M. (2010). Aircraft noise effects on sleep: Mechanisms, mitigation and research needs. Noise and Health, 12, 95–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, A. (1987). Toxins, technology and natural disasters. In G. R. VandenBos & B. Bryant (Eds.), Cataclysms, crises and catastrophes: Psychology in action (pp. 5–54). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, A., & Fleming, I. (1993). Implications of psychological research on stress and technological accidents. American Psychologist, 48(6), 665–672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, A., Fleming, I., & Singer, J. E. (1983). Coping with victimization by technological disaster. Journal of Social Issues, 39, 117–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boardman, J. D., Downey, L., Jackson, J. S., Merrill, J. B., Saint Onge, J. M., & Williams, D. R. (2008). Proximate industrial activity and psychological distress. Population and Environment, 30, 3–25. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11111-008-0075-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonaiuto, M., Breakwell, G. M., & Cano, I. (1996). Identity processes and environmental threat: The effects of nationalism and local identity upon perception of beach pollution. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 6(3), 157–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonaiuto, M., Bonnes, M., Ceccarelli, M., & Martorella, H. (2008). Local identity and the role of individual differences in the use of natural resources: The case of water consumption. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 4, 947–967.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breakwell, G. M. (1986). Coping with threatened identity. London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breakwell, G. M. (1992). Processes of self-evaluation: Efficacy and estrangement. In G. M. Breakwell (Ed.), Social psychology of identity and the self-concept (pp. 35–55). Surrey: Surrey University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunekreef, B., & Holgate, S. T. (2002). Air pollution and health. Lancet, 360, 1233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, S., Francis, M., Rivlin, L. G., & Stone, A. (1992). Public space. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavalini, P. M., Koeter-Kemmerling, L. G., & Pulles, M. P. (1991). Coping with odour annoyance and odour concentrations: Three field studies. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11, 123–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chattopadhyay, P. K., & Mukhopadhyay, P. (1995). Air pollution and health hazards in human subjects: Physiological and self-report indices. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15, 327–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. (2004). Social relationships and health. American Psychologist, 59(8), 676–684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S., Evans, G. W., Krantz, D. S., & Stokols, D. (1980). Physiological, motivational and cognitive effects of aircraft on children: Moving from the laboratory to the field. American Psychologist, 35, 231–243. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.35.3.231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Vries, S., Verheij, R., Groenewegen, P., & Spreeuwenberg, P. (2003). Natural environments-healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between greenspace and health. Environment and Planning A, 35, 1717–1731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devine-Wright, P. (2009). Rethinking NIMBYism: The role of place attachment and place identity in explaining place-protective action. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 19(6), 426–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devine-Wright, P., & Lyons, E. (1997). Remembering pasts and representing places: The construction of national identities in Ireland. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 17, 33–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dines, N., Cattell, V., Gesler, W., & Curtis, S. (2006). Public spaces, social relations and well-being in East London. Bristol: Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duarte, A. P., & Lima, M. L. (2005). Análise dos conteúdos da identidade associada ao lugar [Analysis of place identity contents]. Psicologia, 19(1–2), 193–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmenhorst, E. M., Pennig, S., Rolny, V., Quehl, J., Mueller, U., Maaß, H., et al. (2012). Examining nocturnal railway noise and aircraft noise in the field: Sleep, psychomotor performance, and annoyance. Science of the Total Environment, 424, 48–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission. (1996). Future noisy police. European Commission Green Paper, COM (96) 540 final.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foundation, M. H. (2000). Strategies for the living: Report of user led research into people’s strategies for living with mental distress. London: MHF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gatersleben, B. (2008). Humans and nature: Ten useful findings from environmental psychology research. Counselling Psychology Review, 23, 24–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory, R., Flynn, J., & Slovic, P. (1995). Technological stigma. American Scientist, 83, 220–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guifford, R. (2014). Environmental psychology matters. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 541–579. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115048.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartig, T. (2008). Green space, psychological restoration, and health inequality. Lancet, 372, 1614–1615.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haynes, R., & Gale, S. (1999). Mortality, long-term illness and deprivation in rural and metropolitan wards in England and Wales. Health & Place, 5, 301–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarup, L., Babisch, W., Houthuijs, D., Pershagen, G., Katsouyanni, K., Cadum, E., et al. (2008). Hypertension and exposure to noise near airports: The HYENA study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116, 329–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kampa, M., & Castanas, E. (2008). Human health effects of air pollution. Environmental Pollution, 151, 362–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krutli, P., Stauffacher, M., Pedolin, D., Moser, C., & Scholz, R. W. (2012). The process matters: Fairness in repository siting for nuclear waste. Social Justice Research, 25, 79–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress appraisal and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima, M. L. (2000). As controvérsias públicas nos Estudos de Impacte Ambiental. In E. Gonçalves (Ed.), Ciência, Cultura Científica e Participação Pública (pp. 139–151). Oeiras: Celta Editora.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima, M. L. (2004). On the influence of risk perception on mental health: Living near an incinerator. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24(1), 71–84. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(03)00026-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima, M. L. (2006). Predictors of attitudes towards the construction of a waste incinerator: Two case studies. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 36, 441–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima, M. L. (2008). Percepção de riscos e desigualdades sociais. In J. Madureira Pinto & V. Borges Pereira (Eds.), Desigualdades, Desregulação e Riscos nas Sociedades Contemporâneas (pp. 267–290). Porto: Afrontamento.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lima, M. L., & Marques, S. (2005). Towards successful psychosocial follow-up: A case study of a solid waste incinerator in the North of Portugal. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 23(2), 227–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lima, M. L., Moreira, S., & Marques, S. (2012). Participatory community involvement in planning processes of building project: A social psychological approach. Umweltpsychologie, 16, 68–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mace, B., Bell, P., & Loomis, R. (1999). Aesthetic, affective, and cognitive effects of noise on natural landscape assessment. Society and Natural Resources, 12(3), 225–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manzo, L. (2003). Beyond house and haven: Toward a revisioning of place attachment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23(1), 47–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marques, S. (2009). Is it age…or society? Aging stereotypes and older people’s use of comparative optimism towards health. Unpublished doctoral thesis. ISCTE-IUL, Lisbon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marques, S., Lima, M. L., Moreira, S., & Reis, J. (2015). Local identity as an amplifier: Testing its moderating role in the relationship between perceived justice and attitudes towards newdams projects. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 44(4), 63–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marques, S., & Lima, M. L. (2011). Living in grey areas: Industrial activity and psychological health. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31(4), 314–322. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.12.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthies, E., Hoeger, R., & Guski, R. (2000). Living on polluted soil: Determinants of stress symptoms. Environment and Behavior, 32, 270–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McMillan, D. W., & Chavis, D. (1986). Sense of community: A definition and theory. Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 6–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moser, G. (2009). Quality of life and sustainability: Toward person-environment congruity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29, 351–357. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2009.02.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien, L. T., & Hummert, M. L. (2006). Memory performance of late middle-aged adults: Contrasting self-stereotyping and stereotype threat accounts of assimilation to age stereotypes. Social Cognition, 24, 338–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ouis, D. (2001). Annoyance from road traffic noise: A review. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 21, 101–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perera, F. P., Tang, D., Wang, S., Vishnevetsky, S., Zhang, B., Diaz, D., Camann, D., & Rauh, V. (2012). Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and child behavior at age 6–7 years. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(6), 921–926.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrou, S., & Kupek, E. (2008). Social capital and its relationship with measures of health status: Evidence from the health survey for England 2003. Health Economics, 17(1), 127–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petts, J. (1994). Effective waste management: Understanding and dealing with public concerns. Waste Management & Research, 12(3), 207–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pretty, J., Peacock, J., Sellens, M., & Griffin, M. (2005). The mental and physical health outcomes of green exercise. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 15(5), 319–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sclar, E. D., Garau, P., & Carolini, G. (2005). The 21st century health challenges of slums and cities. The Lancet, 365(9462), 901–903.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sequeira, A., & Silva, M. N. (2002). O bem estar da pessoa idosa em meio rural. Análise Psicológica, 20(3), 505–516.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah, A. S. V., Langrish, J. P., Nair, N., McAllister, D. A., Hunter, A. L., Donaldson, K., Newby, D. E., & Mills, N. L. (2013). Global association of air pollution and heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet, 382(9897), 1039–1048. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(13)60898-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slovic, P. (1987). Perception of risk. Science, 236, 280–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slovic, P., Flynn, J., & Gregory, R. (1994). Stigma happens: Social problems in the siting of nuclear waste facilities. Risk Analysis, 14, 773–777.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, E. R., & Mackie, D. M. (1995). Social psychology. New York: Worth Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stansfeld, S. A., Berglund, B., Clark, C., Lopez-Barrio, I., Fischer, P., Öhrström, E., Haines, M. M., Head, J., Hygge, S., Van Kamp, I., & Berry, B. F. (2005). Aircraft and road traffic noise and children’s cognition and health: A cross-national study. The Lancet, 365, 1942–1949.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staples, S. L. (1996). Human response to environmental noise: Psychological research and public policy. American Psychologist, 51(2), 143–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinheider, B., & Winneke, G. (1993). Industrial odours as environmental stressors: Exposure-annoyance associations and their modification by coping, age and perceived health. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 13, 353–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sumpter, C., & Chandramohan, D. (2013). Systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between indoor air pollution and tuberculosis. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 18(1), 101–108. doi:10.1111/tmi.12013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1986). The social identity theory of intergroup behavior. In Psychology of intergroup relations (pp. 7–24). Chicago: Nelson-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E., & Brown, J. D. (1988). Illusion and well being: A social cognitive perspective on mental health. Psychological Bulletin, 106, 231–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Twigger-Ross, C., & Uzzell, D. (1996). Place identity and place attachment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 16(2), 205–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, T. R. (2000). Social justice: Outcome and procedure. International Journal of Psychology, 35(2), 117–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, T. R., Boeckmann, R., Smith, H., & Hou, Y. (1997). Social justice in a diverse society. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uzzell, D., & Moser, G. (2006). On the quality of life of environments. European Review of Applied Psychology, 56, 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Pligt, J. (1992). Nuclear energy and the public. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Pligt, J., Eiser, J. R., & Spears, R. (1986). Attitudes towards nuclear energy: Familiarity and salience. Environment and Behavior, 18, 75–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Kempen, E., & Babisch, W. (2012). The quantitative relationship between road traffic noise and hypertension: A meta-analysis. Journal of Hypertension, 30, 1075–1086.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vlek, C., & Stallen, P. (1981). Judging risks and benefits in the small and in the large. Organizational Behavior & Human Performance, 28(2), 235–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Schirnding, Y. (2002). Health and sustainable development: Can we rise to the challenge? The Lancet, 360, 632–637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, W. J. (1987). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass, and public policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoellner, J., Schweizerries, P., & Wemheuer, C. (2008). Public acceptance of renewable energies: Results from case studies in Germany. Energy Policy, 36(11), 4136–4141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Cis-IUL, Lisbon, Portugal

    Maria Luísa Lima & Sibila Marques

Authors
  1. Maria Luísa Lima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sibila Marques
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Luísa Lima .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology, University of Nantes, Nantes, France

    Ghozlane Fleury-Bahi

  2. Department of Social Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Enric Pol

  3. Faculty of Psychology, University of Nantes, Nantes, France

    Oscar Navarro

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lima, M.L., Marques, S. (2017). Living in Industrial Areas: Social Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation. In: Fleury-Bahi, G., Pol, E., Navarro, O. (eds) Handbook of Environmental Psychology and Quality of Life Research. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31416-7_28

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31416-7_28

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31414-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31416-7

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation