Green Physical Activity Indicator: Health, Physical Activity and Spending Time Outdoors Related to Residents Preference for Greenery

Dagmara Stangierska (), Beata Fornal-Pieniak, Paweł Szumigała, Katarzyna Widera, Barbara Żarska and Karolina Szumigała
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Dagmara Stangierska: Department of Pomology and Horticulture Economics, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warszawa, Poland
Beata Fornal-Pieniak: Department of Environmental Protection and Dendrology, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Paweł Szumigała: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agronomy, Horticulture and Bioengineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznań, Poland
Katarzyna Widera: Department of Economics, Finance, Regional and International Research, Faculty of Economics and Management, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, 45-758 Opole, Poland
Barbara Żarska: Department of Environmental Protection and Dendrology, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences—SGGW, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Karolina Szumigała: Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agronomy, Horticulture and Bioengineering, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznań, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-14

Abstract: Spending time in the natural outdoor environment is a part of a healthy lifestyle. This study focused on identifying elements of green infrastructure that have a positive impact on both increasing physical activity, spending time outdoors and improving overall health. The aim of the research was to identify which elements of the settlement units’ green and blue infrastructure, related to residents’ preferences for greenery, influence more physical activity and spending time in green spaces and improve the healthy feeling of users as perceived by respondents. A total of 721 respondents from Poland took part in the survey. Using multiple regression models, the factors that influence an increase in outdoor physical activity Green Physical Activity Index (GPAI) were: using green spaces for exercise, spending time outdoors, exposure to nature and sufficiently large amounts of green space in the neighborhood and proximity to places to walk the dog. In contrast, physical activity has been shown to improve feeling healthy (health declaration). The main findings show that the increase in physical activity outdoors (GPAI) is positively influenced by factors related to respondents’ reasons for being outdoors, rather than the attractiveness and availability of green infrastructure. The research confirmed the necessity of arranging green areas with rich offerings in terms of a variety of activities for leisure visitors, to give them more opportunities for being outdoors.

Keywords: greenery; green spaces; feeling healthy; health declaration; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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