Iranian Sustainable Building Scientific Association International Journal of Urban Management and Energy Sustainability 2538-1628 7 1 2026 05 01 The Influence of Physical Architectural Components on the Mental Health of Healthcare Staff: A Case Study of 22 Bahman Hospital, Mashhad City 69 81 736218 10.22034/ijumes.2026.2077407.1344 EN Mahdi Keyvani Department of Art and Architecture, Bi.C., Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran 0009-0007-5745-2306 Reza Mirzaei Department of Art and Architecture, Bi.C., Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran 0000-0001-8769-0275 Ahmad Heidari Department of Art and Architecture, Bi.C., Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran 0000-0002-7072-2098 Ata Tehranchi Department of psychology, Imamreza International University, Mashhad, Iran 0000-0001-8249-9359 Journal Article 2025 11 11 Mental health is fundamental to healthcare staff wellbeing, particularly in high-stress hospital environments where poor workplace design contributes to burnout and adverse patient outcomes. This study investigates the influence of physical architectural components on the mental health of medical staff at 22 Bahman Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. A correlational cross-sectional design was employed, identifying five architectural dimensions (access and movement, visual perception, geometry and dimensions, spatial complexity and diversity, and spatial hierarchy) and five mental health dimensions (feelings of peace, personal security, happiness, sense of belonging, and social interaction) through a theoretical review. A five-point Likert-scale questionnaire was administered to 130 healthcare staff (nurses and physicians) selected from a population of 198 via Cochran’s formula (95% confidence level), and data were analysed using PLS-SEM via SmartPLS. Visual perception exerted the strongest architectural influence (β = 0.862, T = 33.84, p < 0.001), followed by geometry and dimensions (β = 0.819), access and movement and spatial hierarchy (β = 0.776 each), and spatial complexity and diversity (β = 0.574). Among mental health dimensions, personal security ranked highest (β = 0.886, T = 41.97, p < 0.001), followed by happiness (β = 0.818), sense of belonging (β = 0.728), social interaction (β = 0.688), and feelings of peace (β = 0.675). All constructs confirmed acceptable reliability (α > 0.7; CR > 0.8) and convergent validity (AVE > 0.5). These findings demonstrate that strategic architectural interventions prioritising visual quality, spatial organisation, and perceived safety can meaningfully enhance healthcare staff mental health, offering evidence-based guidance for hospital architects and administrators. https://www.ijumes.com/article_736218_b465b7de7754b64f4b89e710c264ef98.pdf