Nature perception and positive emotions in urban forest parks enhance subjective well-being
2024 World Happiness Report. https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240074323.
Helliwell, J. F. et al. World Happiness Report 2024. (2024).
Buckley, R. Nature tourism and mental health: Parks, happiness, and causation. J. Sustain. Tour. 28, 1409–1424 (2020).
Sun, Y. Happiness and mental health of older adults: Multiple mediation analysis. Front. Psychol. 14, 1108678 (2023).
Google Scholar
Touburg, G. & Veenhoven, R. Mental health care and average happiness: Strong effect in developed nations. Adm. Policy Ment. Health Ment. Health Serv. Res 42, 394–404 (2015).
Buckland, H. T., Schepp, K. G. & Crusoe, K. Defining happiness for young adults with schizophrenia: A building block for recovery. Arch. Psychiatr. Nurs. 27, 235–240 (2013).
Google Scholar
Mahakud, G. C. & Yadav, R. Effects of happiness on mental health. Int. J. Indian Psychol. 2, 106–114 (2015).
Almadani, N. A. & Alwesmi, M. B. The relationship between happiness and mental health among Saudi Women. Brain Sci. 13, 526 (2023).
Google Scholar
Alvarsson, J. J., Wiens, S. & Nilsson, M. E. Stress recovery during exposure to nature sound and environmental noise. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health 7, 1036–1046 (2010).
Google Scholar
Hartig, T., Böök, A., Garvill, J., Olsson, T. & Gärling, T. Environmental influences on psychological restoration. Scand. J. Psychol. 37, 378–393 (1996).
Google Scholar
Ulrich, R. S. et al. Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. J. Environ. Psychol. 11, 201–230 (1991).
Bai, Z. & Zhang, S. Effects of different natural soundscapes on human psychophysiology in national forest park. Sci. Rep. 14, 17462 (2024).
Google Scholar
Zhang, S., Tan, Y., Zhong, Y., Yuan, J. & Ding, Y. Psychological recovery effects of 3D virtual tourism with real scenes—a comparative study. Inf. Technol. Tour. 25, 71–103 (2023).
Ayala-Azcárraga, C., Diaz, D. & Zambrano, L. Characteristics of urban parks and their relation to user well-being. Landsc. Urban Plan. 189, 27–35 (2019).
Geng, W. et al. Leisure involvement, leisure benefits, and subjective well-being of bicycle riders in an urban forest park: The moderation of age. Forests 14, 1676 (2023).
Reyes-Riveros, R. et al. Linking public urban green spaces and human well-being: A systematic review. Urban For. Urban Green. 61, 127105 (2021).
Lee, H. J., Son, Y.-H., Kim, S. & Lee, D. K. Healing experiences of middle-aged women through an urban forest therapy program. Urban For. Urban Green. 38, 383–391 (2019).
MacKerron, G. & Mourato, S. Happiness is greater in natural environments. Glob. Environ. Change 23, 992–1000 (2013).
Chang, C. et al. Social media, nature, and life satisfaction: Global evidence of the biophilia hypothesis. Sci. Rep. 10, 4125 (2020).
Google Scholar
Gaekwad, J. S., Sal Moslehian, A., Roös, P. B. & Walker, A. A meta-analysis of emotional evidence for the biophilia hypothesis and implications for biophilic design. Front. Psychol. 13, 750245 (2022).
Google Scholar
Barton, J. & Pretty, J. What is the best dose of nature and green exercise for improving mental health? A multi-study analysis. Environ. Sci. Technol. 44, 3947–3955 (2010).
Google Scholar
Basner, M. et al. Auditory and non-auditory effects of noise on health. The Lancet 383, 1325–1332 (2014).
Passchier-Vermeer, W. & Passchier, W. F. Noise exposure and public health. Environ. Health Perspect. 108, 123–131 (2000).
Google Scholar
Franchini, M. & Mannucci, P. M. Air pollution and cardiovascular disease. Thromb. Res. 129, 230–234 (2012).
Google Scholar
Welsch, H. Environment and happiness: Valuation of air pollution using life satisfaction data. Ecol. Econ. 58, 801–813 (2006).
Stieger, S., Aichinger, I. & Swami, V. The impact of nature exposure on body image and happiness: An experience sampling study. Int. J. Environ. Health Res. 32, 870–884 (2022).
Google Scholar
Macaulay, R., Lee, K., Johnson, K. & Williams, K. Mindful engagement, psychological restoration, and connection with nature in constrained nature experiences. Landsc. Urban Plan. 217, 104263 (2022).
Payne, E. A., Loi, N. M. & Thorsteinsson, E. B. The restorative effect of the natural environment on university students’ psychological health. J. Environ. Public Health 2020, 1–9 (2020).
Kaplan, S. The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. J. Environ. Psychol. 15, 169–182 (1995).
Pan, H. Effect of the ecological environment on the residents’ happiness: The mechanism and an evidence from Zhejiang Province of China. Environ. Dev. Sustain. 25, 2716–2734 (2023).
The Routledge Companion to Landscape Studies. (Routledge Taylor and Francis Group, London ; New York, 2019).
Kaplan, R. & Kaplan, S. A Psychological Perspective (Cambridge University Press, 1989).
Ulrich, R. S. Aesthetic and affective response to natural environment. In Behavior and the Natural Environment (eds Altman, I. & Wohlwill, J. F.) 85–125 (Springer, Boston, 1983).
Hartig, T., Mang, M. & Evans, G. W. Restorative effects of natural environment experiences. Environ. Behav. 23, 3–26 (1991).
Polajnar Horvat, K. & Ribeiro, D. Urban public spaces as restorative environments: The case of Ljubljana. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health 20, 2159 (2023).
Google Scholar
Mayer, F. S. & Frantz, C. M. The connectedness to nature scale: A measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature. J. Environ. Psychol. 24, 503–515 (2004).
Sandifer, P. A., Sutton-Grier, A. E. & Ward, B. P. Exploring connections among nature, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human health and well-being: Opportunities to enhance health and biodiversity conservation. Ecosyst. Serv. 12, 1–15 (2015).
Giusti, M. & Samuelsson, K. The regenerative compatibility: A synergy between healthy ecosystems, environmental attitudes, and restorative experiences. PLoS ONE 15, e0227311 (2020).
Google Scholar
Williams, D. R. & Vaske, J. J. The measurement of place attachment: Validity and generalizability of a psychometric approach. For. Sci. 49, 830–840 (2003).
Hao, S., Zhang, L., Hou, R., Lau, S. S. Y. & Lau, S. S. Y. Research on the physiological and psychological impacts of extraordinary nature on emotions and restorative effects for young adults. J. Environ. Psychol. 97, 102345 (2024).
Akpınar, A. How perceived sensory dimensions of urban green spaces are associated with teenagers’ perceived restoration, stress, and mental health?. Landsc. Urban Plan. 214, 104185 (2021).
Dzhambov, A. M. et al. Protective effect of restorative possibilities on cognitive function and mental health in children and adolescents: A scoping review including the role of physical activity. Environ. Res. 233, 116452 (2023).
Google Scholar
Echezarraga, A., Las Hayas, C., López De Arroyabe, E. & Jones, S. H. Resilience and recovery in the context of psychological disorders. J. Humanist. Psychol. 64, 465–488 (2024).
Yıldırım, M. & Arslan, G. Exploring the associations between resilience, dispositional hope, preventive behaviours, subjective well-being, and psychological health among adults during early stage of COVID-19. Curr. Psychol. 41, 5712–5722 (2022).
Google Scholar
Fredrickson, B. L. The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Am. Psychol. 56, 218–226 (2001).
Google Scholar
Ryan, R. M. & Deci, E. L. Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. Am. Psychol. 55, 68–78 (2000).
Google Scholar
Kaplan, S. Meditation, restoration, and the management of mental fatigue. Environ. Behav. 33, 480–506 (2001).
Yao, W., Zhang, X. & Gong, Q. The effect of exposure to the natural environment on stress reduction: A meta-analysis. Urban For. Urban Green. 57, 126932 (2021).
Chen, R. et al. How does the experience of forest recreation spaces in different seasons affect the physical and mental recovery of users?. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health 20, 2357 (2023).
Google Scholar
Folkman, S. The case for positive emotions in the stress process. Anxiety Stress Coping 21, 3–14 (2008).
Google Scholar
Cavanagh, C. E. & Larkin, K. T. A critical review of the “undoing hypothesis”: Do positive emotions undo the effects of stress?. Appl. Psychophysiol. Biofeedback 43, 259–273 (2018).
Google Scholar
Richardson, M., McEwan, K., Maratos, F. & Sheffield, D. Joy and Calm: How an evolutionary functional model of affect regulation informs positive emotions in nature. Evol. Psychol. Sci. 2, 308–320 (2016).
Russell, J. A. A circumplex model of affect. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 39, 1161 (1980).
Norman, G. J., Necka, E. & Berntson, G. G. 4—The psychophysiology of emotions. In Emotion Measurement (ed. Meiselman, H. L.) 83–98 (Woodhead Publishing, 2016).
Jones, N. A. & Mize, K. D. Introduction to the special issue: Psychophysiology and psychobiology in emotion development. J. Exp. Child Psychol. 142, 239–244 (2016).
Google Scholar
Bratman, G. N. et al. Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Sci. Adv. 5, eaax0903 (2019).
Google Scholar
Kuykendall, L., Tay, L. & Ng, V. Leisure engagement and subjective well-being: A meta-analysis. Psychol. Bull. 141, 364–403 (2015).
Google Scholar
Wiese, C. W., Kuykendall, L. & Tay, L. Get active? A meta-analysis of leisure-time physical activity and subjective well-being. J. Posit. Psychol. 13, 57–66 (2018).
Kaltenborn, B. P. & Bjerke, T. Associations between landscape preferences and place attachment: A study in Røros, Southern Norway. Landsc. Res. 27, 381–396 (2002).
Schroeder, H. W. Environmental perception rating scales: A case for simple methods of analysis. Environ. Behav. 16, 573–598 (1984).
Cakmak, M. Environmental perception scale: A study of reliability and validity. Int. Online J. Educ. Sci. 12, 268–287 (2020).
Huang, C. C., Hunag, F. M. & Chou, X. J. Research on the relationship between environmental preference and environmental resilience evaluation: A case study of mountain view. J. Outdoor Recreat. Tour. 21, 1–25 (2008).
Yang, H. & Zhang, S. Impact of rural soundscape on environmental restoration: An empirical study based on the Taohuayuan Scenic Area in Changde, China. PLoS ONE 19, e0300328 (2024).
Google Scholar
Hartig, T. Further development of a measure of perceived environmental restorativeness. Int. J. Energy Res. 5, 2–15 (1997).
Diener, E. Subjective well-being. Psychol. Bull. 95, 542–575 (1984).
Google Scholar
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J. & Griffin, S. The satisfaction with life scale. J. Pers. Assess. 49, 71–75 (1985).
Google Scholar
Watson, D., Anna, L. & Tellegen, A. Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 54(6), 1063 (1988).
Google Scholar
Wen, Z. L. Comparison and application of moderating effect and mediating effect. Acta Psychol. Sin. 37, 268–274 (2005).
Mulaik, S. A. et al. Evaluation of goodness-of-fit indices for structural equation models. Psychol. Bull. 105, 430–445 (1989).
Blunch, N. J. Introduction to structural equation modeling using IBM SPSS statistics and amos. 1–312 (2012).
Hayes, A. F. Beyond Baron and Kenny: Statistical mediation analysis in the new millennium. Commun. Monogr. 76, 408–420 (2009).
Wicks, C., Barton, J., Orbell, S. & Andrews, L. Psychological benefits of outdoor physical activity in natural versus urban environments: A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental studies. Appl. Psychol. Health Well-Being 14, 1037–1061 (2022).
Google Scholar
Barragan-Jason, G., Loreau, M., de Mazancourt, C., Singer, M. C. & Parmesan, C. Psychological and physical connections with nature improve both human well-being and nature conservation: A systematic review of meta-analyses. Biol. Conserv. 277, 109842 (2023).
Schebella, M. F., Weber, D., Schultz, L. & Weinstein, P. The nature of reality: Human stress recovery during exposure to biodiverse, multisensory virtual environments. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health 17, 56 (2019).
Google Scholar
Kjellgren, A. & Buhrkall, H. A comparison of the restorative effect of a natural environment with that of a simulated natural environment. J. Environ. Psychol. 30, 464–472 (2010).
Hakoköngäs, E. & Puhakka, R. Happiness from nature? Adolescents’ conceptions of the relation between happiness and nature in Finland. Leis. Sci. 45, 665–683 (2023).
Guo, Y., Jiang, X., Zhang, L., Zhang, H. & Jiang, Z. Effects of sound source landscape in urban forest park on alleviating mental stress of visitors: Evidence from huolu mountain forest park. Guangzhou. Sustainability 14, 15125 (2022).
Yeon, P.-S. et al. Effects of urban forest therapy program on depression patients. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health 20, 507 (2022).
Google Scholar
Tsunetsugu, Y. et al. Physiological and psychological effects of viewing urban forest landscapes assessed by multiple measurements. Landsc. Urban Plan. 113, 90–93 (2013).
Fava, G. A. & Tomba, E. Increasing psychological well-being and resilience by psychotherapeutic methods. J. Pers. 77, 1903–1934 (2009).
Google Scholar
Fava, G. A. & Offidani, E. The mechanisms of tolerance in antidepressant action. Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry 35, 1593–1602 (2011).
Google Scholar
Nukarinen, T. et al. Measures and modalities in restorative virtual natural environments: An integrative narrative review. Comput. Hum. Behav. 126, 107008 (2022).
Frost, S. et al. Virtual immersion in nature and psychological well-being: A systematic literature review. J. Environ. Psychol. 80, 101765 (2022).
Fredrickson, B. L. & Joiner, T. Positive emotions trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being. Psychol. Sci. 13, 172–175 (2002).
Google Scholar
Dreer, B. Teachers’ well-being and job satisfaction: The important role of positive emotions in the workplace. Educ. Stud. 50, 61–77 (2024).
Hendriks, T., Schotanus-Dijkstra, M., Graafsma, T., Bohlmeijer, E. & de Jong, J. Positive emotions as a potential mediator of a multi-component positive psychology intervention aimed at increasing mental well-being and resilience. Int. J. Appl. Posit. Psychol. 6, 1–21 (2021).
Carneiro, M. J. & Eusébio, C. Factors influencing the impact of tourism on happiness. Anatolia 30, 475–496 (2019).
Hong, S.-K., Lee, S.-W., Jo, H.-K. & Yoo, M. Impact of frequency of visits and time spent in urban green space on subjective well-being. Sustainability 11, 4189 (2019).
Kline, R. B. Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling (Guilford Publications, 2023).
Tarka, P. An overview of structural equation modeling: Its beginnings, historical development, usefulness and controversies in the social sciences. Qual. Quant. 52, 313–354 (2018).
Google Scholar
Podsakoff, P. M. & Organ, D. W. Self-reports in organizational research: Problems and prospects. J. Manage. 12(4), 531–544. (1986).
link
