Impact of Perception of Green Space for Health Promotion on Willingness to Use Parks and Actual Use among Young Urban Residents

Chongxian Chen, Weijing Luo, Haiwei Li, Danting Zhang, Ning Kang, Xiaohao Yang and Yu Xia
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Chongxian Chen: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Weijing Luo: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Haiwei Li: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
Danting Zhang: College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
Ning Kang: School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing 10084, China
Xiaohao Yang: School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
Yu Xia: College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: Promoting the use of green space is a fundamental way to improve physical and mental health and to enhance the quality of life of urban residents. In response to increasing demand for green space in cities, the impact of perception of green space for health promotion on willingness to use parks and actual use among young urban residents was investigated in this study. A total of 1135 young residents (ages 18–35) in three cities in China were surveyed by online questionnaire. A group of multiple regression models was constructed to investigate the influencing perception factors of participants’ willingness to use parks and actual use. The results revealed that the young residents’ perception of green space components for health promotion (green space access, types, sizes, plants, water, sensory features, microclimate environments and amenity facilities) had a greater effect on their willingness to use parks and to promote health, while it was less influential with respect to their actual park use behavior (frequency and duration). Among these variables, green space access is a critical concern for willingness to use toward parks. The disparities of perception of green space for health promotion effect on willingness to use a park and actual use provide a better understanding of the psychological factors affecting park use among young residents. The findings also provided some implications for public health policymakers, urban planners and landscape architects in designing parks to encourage visitation by young people.

Keywords: green space; health promotion; park use; young urban residents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (15)

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