What does health mean to residents in their own neighbourhood? As part of the SPRING programme, PhD student Anniek Bosdijk from Resilient Delta is researching this question. Rather than relying on assumptions, she is listening to residents themselves and focusing on their daily experiences.

For her research, Anniek spoke with 15 residents in three Rotterdam neighbourhoods: Crooswijk, Oude Noorden and Beverwaard. The conversations took place in the community centre, in an informal setting – often over a cup of coffee. Residents spoke openly about their lives and the challenges they face, such as health problems, mental health issues, loneliness or financial stress. It is precisely this broad context that makes it clear that health in practice encompasses much more than a list of lifestyle recommendations.

Health is more than just nutrition and exercise

During the discussions, it became clear that residents do not associate health solely with nutrition and exercise. For them, health is also about participation, independence and being able to experience meaning. As Anniek summarises: ‘Health is not just about nutrition and exercise – it’s also about participation, independence and meaning.’ This perspective shows why it is important for residents to have structure in their day, to feel connected to others and to experience space to let go of their worries for a while.

Illustration by Saskia van Langevelde (Ontwikkelzin)

The neighbourhood as a basis for participation and self-esteem

The neighbourhood plays a greater role in this than is often thought. Residents see their neighbourhood not only as a place where they can get help from professionals, but also as an environment where they can feel valuable again, for example by doing something meaningful for others through voluntary work. For people who experience vulnerability in particular, the neighbourhood can therefore contribute to self-esteem, social connection and well-being.

The physical living environment also features prominently in the stories. Residents mention tranquillity, safety and greenery as factors that directly influence their mental health. At the same time, there are obstacles that make it difficult to participate or live healthier lives. These include costs that limit participation, or worries that take up so much space that exercise, socialising or relaxation are not a given.

Residents’ perspectives as valuable input for policy

An important insight from Anniek’s research is that the perspectives of residents themselves are still insufficiently visible in neighbourhood policy and in much of the literature. That is precisely why she chose to share her findings not only with professionals, but also with the participants themselves. She sent residents a card and a short fact sheet in easy-to-understand language. She also shared her insights with the municipality’s health team and in a directors’ meeting, so that residents’ experiences could also be taken into account at the policy level.

With this publication in BMC Health Services Research, Anniek shows how important it is to take a broader view of health in the neighbourhood and how residents’ perspectives provide valuable input for interventions and programmes that are better aligned with everyday life.