Work

Towards a Synergistic Design Framework for Health-Promoting Schools in Hot and Humid Climates: A Systematic Review

Year: 2026

Type: review

Abstract: Children and adolescents in hot and humid climates face increasing health risks due to climate change. Although the concept of Health-Promoting Schools (HPSs) is widely recognized, a systematic framework that integrates climate adaptability, child-specific needs, and multidimensional environmental design is still lacking. To address this gap, this study conducted a systematic literature review of 89 publications with three objectives: (1) synthesize research from the past decade on the impact of school physical environments on the health and academic performance of children and adolescents; (2) develop an evidence-based synergistic design framework with a categorized indicator system; and (3) integrate qualitative and quantitative evidence on how these indicators influence different health dimensions. The resulting framework emphasizes multidimensional, synergistic optimization and provides climate-responsive design strategies tailored to educational settings in hot and humid regions. By offering a theory-to-practice pathway, the framework complements existing healthy building guidelines for K–12 schools and supports designers and policymakers in creating environments that enhance thermal resilience, cognitive performance, and holistic child development.

Source: Buildings

DOI: 10.3390/buildings16030508

Authors: Qinghua Lei, Shanjing Huang, Jiucheng Di, Jun Wu

Institution: Shenzhen University

Language: English

Topic: School Health and Nursing Education

Subfield: Speech and Hearing

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Quality education, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137