Public parks utilization and citizen satisfaction in Bangkok Metropolitan: An integrated theoretical model for tropical urban health

Wichian Chanthanet

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-18

Abstract: Background: Tropical megacities face escalating non-communicable disease burdens requiring innovative urban health solutions. Despite public parks’ critical role as health infrastructure, limited research exists on utilization patterns and satisfaction in tropical urban contexts, where extreme heat and humidity create unique challenges. The equitable distribution of park benefits across socioeconomic groups remains underexplored in Southeast Asian contexts, a gap this study directly addresses. Objective: This study developed and validated an integrated theoretical model of public park utilization and citizen satisfaction in tropical environments, identifying key determinants and providing evidence-based recommendations for health-promoting urban design, with attention to socioeconomic and gender equity dimensions. Methods: We conducted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study combining the Social Ecological Model, Expectation-Disconfirmation Theory, and Place Attachment Theory. Data were collected from 1,200 park users across 30 Bangkok parks using four-stage stratified random sampling, supplemented by 30 in-depth interviews. Analysis included hierarchical regression, thematic analysis, and comprehensive validity assessment. Results: Participants (58.3% female, mean age 35.9 years) visited parks 3.3 times weekly for 1.8 hours per session. Park quality emerged as the strongest satisfaction predictor (β = 0.401–0.607, all p

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0354172

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0354172

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