The Influence of Physical Architectural Components on the Mental Health of Healthcare Staff: A Case Study of 22 Bahman Hospital, Mashhad City

Keyvani, Mahdi; Mirzaei, Reza; Heidari, Ahmad; Tehranchi, Ata

doi:10.22034/ijumes.2026.2077407.1344

The Influence of Physical Architectural Components on the Mental Health of Healthcare Staff: A Case Study of 22 Bahman Hospital, Mashhad City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mahdi Keyvani ¹

Reza Mirzaei ¹

Ahmad Heidari ¹

Ata Tehranchi ²

¹ Department of Art and Architecture, Bi.C., Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran

² Department of psychology, Imamreza International University, Mashhad, Iran

10.22034/ijumes.2026.2077407.1344

Abstract

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.

Graphical Abstract

The Influence of Physical Architectural Components on the Mental Health of Healthcare Staff: A Case Study of 22 Bahman Hospital, Mashhad City

Highlights

· Physical architectural components significantly influence the mental health of healthcare staff in hospital environments.

· Visual perception was the strongest architectural predictor of mental health outcomes (β = 0.862).

· Personal security emerged as the most influential mental health dimension among healthcare professionals (β = 0.886).

· Geometry and dimensions, access and movement, and spatial hierarchy showed substantial positive effects on staff wellbeing.

· Evidence-based architectural interventions can enhance staff mental health and support improved healthcare performance.

Keywords

Evidence-based design

healthcare facility design

Mashhad, mental health

physical architectural components

PLS-SEM

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