MINDAP reconsidered the theory, concepts and mechanisms underling the link between the physical and social urban environment. A return to theory, preferably from different research fields, may strengthen the design of empirical studies and allow for a better understanding of (inconsistent) findings. Although different sources of data collection were used (including data registries), the core of the project consisted of the construction of a data infrastructure allowing unique analyses of the relation between environmental characteristics and mental wellbeing and intermediary variables across cities. Following the GDPR, which was implemented around the start of the MINDMAP project, the integrated database infrastructure was filled with harmonized data. Empirical analyses were done on datasets in which urban environmental factors were linked to individual behavioural and mental health outcomes. We also investigated the contribution of variables on the causal pathways, and the moderating of role of urbanicity in the association between individual variables and mental health outcomes. Furthermore, the impact of ageing-related social policies was investigated for mental wellbeing of older persons. Agent-based models were developed illustrating how (urban) policies can influence mental wellbeing of older adults, according to a systems approach. All work packages were involved in training activities to share findings of the study with (local) stakeholders. Multiple dissemination activities, at local, national and European level, were undertaken to share these new insights with fellow researchers across fields, policy makers, professionals and politicians. These activities include scientific publications in high impact journals, presentations at national and international conferences and discussions and workshops with interdisciplinary stakeholders.
Annual project board meetings were organised, of which one was a online meeting after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working group meetings were held on overarching themes, most intensively concerning the harmonisation of the data in the platform. Numerous bilateral meetings were held.
By the end of the project, approximately 50 peer-reviewed international publications were published from the project, and still many papers are under review or in preparation. A special issue of the Journal of Community Health and Epidemiology is devoted to the MINDMAP project.
MINDMAP has produced a substantial amount of new information on a theme that is probably even more important than it was at the start of the project: a healthy urban living environment for older persons. The data infrastructure realised in the project is an important legacy of the project, which allows much further work.
