The way cities use technology to manage daily life can have a profound effect on residents’ mental health, with the same digital systems that promise convenience sometimes generating anxiety, exclusion, and stress, according to new research published in the Community Mental Health Journal.
A team of researchers from the University of Central Florida reviewed 36 peer-reviewed studies published between 2013 and 2024, examining how smart city features such as green infrastructure, digital platforms, and transport systems affect the psychological well-being of urban residents. Their findings suggest that smart city development can either protect or harm mental health depending on how the technology is designed, who can access it, and how it is experienced in practice.
Green spaces emerged as one of the most consistently positive features. Access to parks and nature-rich public areas was linked to reduced stress, lower rates of depression, and stronger social connectedness. However, the researchers noted that these benefits depended heavily on upkeep and usability. Poorly maintained parks with inadequate lighting, limited seating, and inaccessible facilities for people with disabilities were found to undermine the very mental health benefits they were supposed to provide.
Transport systems also played a significant role. Smart mobility features such as sensor-supported street lighting, real-time navigation tools, and digitally coordinated public transit were associated with lower stress and reduced social isolation. In contrast, mobility barriers including unsafe pedestrian conditions and long travel distances to community spaces were linked to heightened anxiety, particularly among women and people with disabilities.
Digital technologies were the most widely studied component, featuring in nearly 30 of the 36 studies reviewed. Mobile apps, wearable mental health monitoring devices, and AI-driven systems showed both positive and negative effects. Young people with anxiety or depression, for instance, benefited from app-based communication with care providers, reporting greater comfort discussing sensitive topics through messaging services. Yet for many others, particularly older adults and those with limited digital literacy, technology anxiety was found to significantly reduce quality of life.
Surveillance systems raised particular concern. Multiple studies found that smart monitoring tools intended to improve public safety frequently generated discomfort and a reduced sense of personal autonomy. Women and non-binary participants reported higher levels of distress in response to these technologies, often perceiving them as intrusive. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these concerns were intensified by issues around consent and data privacy.
The researchers highlight a significant gap in the current literature. No clinical mental health professionals were involved in designing or evaluating the studies reviewed, and none of the research directly examined people living with serious mental illness. The authors argue that mental health expertise must be embedded in smart city planning from the outset if these environments are to serve all residents equitably.
With rapid urban growth continuing globally, the findings carry clear implications for city planners, technologists, and mental health professionals alike. Smart city design that ignores social inequality, digital exclusion, and psychological vulnerability risks widening existing health disparities rather than closing them.