Linking Human–Bird Interactions to Restorative Environmental Perception and Mental Health: A Landscape Perception Perspective

Runxuan Zhang, Xiaoshan Fang (), Yuanzhihong Liu, Zhouhan Chen, Xuefei Zhang, Shangjiangfeng Lin and Huijian Hu ()
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Runxuan Zhang: School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Xiaoshan Fang: School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Yuanzhihong Liu: School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Zhouhan Chen: School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Xuefei Zhang: School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Shangjiangfeng Lin: School of Architecture, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
Huijian Hu: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510275, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-30

Abstract: Birds, as both wetland ecosystem health indicators and highly perceptible forms of wildlife, provide multi-sensory interaction opportunities shaping human health and well-being. However, most studies simplify birds into static landscape metrics, with limited attention to dynamic human–bird interactions and their mental health benefits. Grounded in landscape perception theory, this study constructs an “interaction–perception–restoration” framework and divides human–bird interactions into sensory, cognitive, and participatory levels based on cognitive resource investment. We collected 321 valid samples from Haizhu National Wetland Park. A mixed analytical strategy was adopted, using structural equation modeling to test the framework and moderated mediation models to examine differential pathways. The results showed the following: (1) Restorative environmental perception (REP) plays a partial mediating role between human–bird interactions and mental health, explaining 46.17% of the total effect. (2) All three interaction levels significantly enhance mental health, with cognitive interaction showing the strongest direct effect (β = 0.347 ***) and sensory interaction the largest indirect effect through REP (β = 0.194 ***). (3) Environmental characteristics directly improve REP (β = 0.51 ***) but do not significantly moderate the relationship between human–bird interactions and REP. This study highlights interaction quality and depth as core drivers of mental health, offering insights for optimizing ecological and recreational services in urban wetland parks.

Keywords: landsenses; urban wetland park; health promotion; structural equation modeling; mediating effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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