Rising heat-wave frequency and strong urban-heat-island (UHI) effects threaten thermal comfort and health in Jordan’s fast-growing cities. While engineering studies suggest that multi-storey apartments trap more heat than detached houses, resident-centred evidence is lacking. A cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to 766 adults (378 apartments, 388 detached-house residents) in Greater Irbid Municipality during the June–July 2025 heat season. Instruments captured (i) UHI perceptions, (ii) perceived effectiveness of passive-cooling design features, (iii) mental and physical heat-related health outcomes (PHQ-2, GAD-2, PSS-4, heat-specific sleep and symptom items), and (iv) coping strategies and psychosocial resources. Group differences were tested with independent-samples t -tests. Apartment dwellers reported a stronger neighbourhood UHI (mean 3.44 ± 0.95 vs 3.12 ± 0.95, p < 0.001, d = 0.33) and judged surrounding trees/shade and natural ventilation less effective (Δ ≈ 0.17–0.29 scale units, p ≤ 0.01). They also showed higher perceived stress (PSS-4 8.40 ± 1.35 vs 8.01 ± 1.63, p < 0.001, d = 0.30), shorter sleep duration, and poorer global sleep quality ( p ≤ 0.003, d ≈ 0.22). Depression, anxiety, 13 heat-related physical symptoms, coping profiles, and service-stigma indicators were statistically indistinguishable between dwelling types. Living in an Irbid apartment confers a modest psychosocial heat burden—elevated stress and compromised sleep—linked more to perceived shading and ventilation deficits than to housing form alone. Targeted greening, façade reflectance, and cross-ventilation retrofits around apartment blocks could yield meaningful well-being gains without major energy penalties in Jordan’s semi-arid urban fabric.
Bushra Obeidat (Fri,) studied this question.