Perceived Danger and Landscape Preferences of Walking Paths with Trees and Shrubs by Women

Aleksandra Lis, Łukasz Pardela, Wu Can, Anna Katlapa and Łukasz Rąbalski
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Aleksandra Lis: Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Łukasz Pardela: Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzka 55, 50-357 Wrocław, Poland
Wu Can: Horticulture & Landscape College, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410000, China
Anna Katlapa: Faculty of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Lielā iela 2, LV-3001 Jelgava, Latvia
Łukasz Rąbalski: Institute of Psychology, University of Gdańsk, Jana Bażyńskiego 4, 80-309 Gdańsk, Poland

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 17, 1-22

Abstract: There have been many studies on the impact of urban greenery on perceived danger and preferences, but not many have been conducted in non-English speaking countries. We carried out our research among female university students in Poland, Latvia and China ( n = 243), using a photograph rating survey instrument, and presenting slides presenting park landscapes. We compared the impact of the presence of trees and shrubs and their capability of offering concealment, as well as perceived space use intensity on perceived danger and preferences in all three countries. Participants rated the presence of shrubs as a more positive influence on path use intensity and as a negative influence on perceived danger. The link between tree presence and perceived danger in Poland and Latvia is small as well as insignificant in China. In addition, perceived danger turned out to be a mediator of the relations between the presence of trees and shrubs and perceived path use intensity and preference. Our findings support the idea that vegetation in parks could be shaped so that it does not provide place to hide. However, this recommendation is primarily applicable to areas in which the variable ‘perceived danger’ is of importance.

Keywords: parks; environmental psychology; public perception; crime; safety (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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