Gentrification, physical environment and perceived health: a combined visual and textual analysis from a photovoice study conducted in Porto, Portugal

Abstract

Gentrification is transforming urban environments with significant implications for residents’ health. Recent research has highlighted that gentrification affects health through multiple pathways, including displacement and rising housing costs, often exacerbating urban health inequalities. This study assesses the public health impact of physical transformations associated with gentrification by conducting a combined analysis of visual and textual data generated through a photovoice study in Porto, Portugal, capturing residents’ perceptions and lived experiences. We conducted a content analysis of 458 photographs and discussion transcriptions produced during a photovoice study with 16 participants from gentrifying, deprived non-gentrifying, and affluent areas. Quantitative analysis of photographs was qualitatively compared and cross-checked with interview transcripts for each analytical category and subcategory. Most categories revealed both positive and negative transformations in the urban environment, with health impacts ranging from improved access to green spaces and public transportation to increased noise, air pollution, and housing insecurity. Some changes may bring long-term benefits while others result in health harms, illustrating the contradictory nature of gentrification’s health impacts. This research highlights the complex relationship between gentrification, physical environment changes, and public health, emphasizing the need for balanced policies that promote equitable urban regeneration and sustainability.