We know from previous research that different environments impact health and wellbeing. Environments can be where you live, where you work, and where you go to school. There is less research about the environment’s effect on young people with disability, aged 15-30 years old. We wanted to know how the environment helps or worsens the health and wellbeing of this group. 

To do this, we first needed to find other studies on the topic. We followed a process called a ‘scoping review’ to gather information. Then we summarised what the studies had found.

Previous research looked at many different types of environments. This included where someone lived, worked, studied and went to have fun, like nearby parks. It also included access to public transport and how close they lived to health services.

The most research was about where someone lived, called their neighbourhood environment. This research was about the social experiences of young people in their neighbourhoods. For example, how many friends young people had living close by. These studies found that disabled young people often did not feel a part of their community. Some studies found that people in more disadvantaged areas had worse health. Other studies did not find this.

There was less research about the other parts of the environment. Few studies looked at safety, access to healthcare, places for having fun, and local jobs.

We need to learn more about which parts of the environment make health better or worse for young people with disability. We need more research in this area if we want to improve the health of young people with disability.

About the author:

Rosie (she/they) is a lived experience research assistant living with mental illness. She loves the challenge of pursuing her interests in literature and health sciences concurrently and is proudly the only poet-physiotherapist that she knows of.