Abstract
Background
Solastalgia, a distress response to environmental changes at home, is observed in urban development contexts. However, the prevention strategies for solastalgia have not been established. We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of solastalgia among residents near a university-oriented residential development site, examining its association with psychological distress and exploring the residential preference factors contributing to solastalgia. Our aim was to utilize these findings for future residential development near universities.
Methods
We mailed residents living near the development site next to Chiba University, Japan, and collected survey responses online from February 24 to March 22, 2026 (response rate: 6.6%). Solastalgia was measured using five Japanese-translated items from the Brief Solastalgia Scale; a high score indicated severe solastalgia. First, we examined the association between solastalgia and psychological distress measured by the K6 scale using multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for all covariates. Second, we conducted a regression analysis of solastalgia against 12 residential preference factors, each rated on a 1–5 scale, to explore their associations.
Results
Among the 2,084 participants, the mean (SD) solastalgia score was 12 (4) out of 25. First, a high solastalgia score was linked to moderate and severe psychological distress, with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of 1.07 (1.05–1.10) and 1.17 (1.12–1.23), respectively. Second, individuals who favored an enriched local community exhibited slightly higher solastalgia (B = 0.44, 0.24–0.63), whereas those who prioritized low residential prices or rents showed the opposite trend (B = -0.41, -0.60–-0.22).
Conclusions
Considering the association with psychological distress, it is essential to establish prevention strategies for solastalgia. Strengthening the local community could be a key factor in the design of residential developments to address solastalgia.
Key messages
• Investigating a key factor to alleviate solastalgia is essential, as it is linked to psychological distress.
• Enriching the local community might be crucial in alleviating solastalgia.