Effects of Nature-Based Solutions on Mental Well-Being—The Case of Urban Parks in Marivan, Iran

Abstract

The importance of urban parks for improving the quality of life of residents is becoming increasingly clear as people interact less and less with nature. Urban parks should be designed to have a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of citizens through the provision of high-quality facilities and services. Nevertheless, there are differences in the influencing factors in urban parks. Nowadays, urban parks as the lungs of cities are considered important destinations for citizens to get rid of stress and mental fatigue. Therefore, it is important to understand what factors contribute to people feeling mentally better and improving their well-being. Based on people’s experiences and opinions, the present study aims to investigate how urban parks as nature-based solutions in Marivan City, Iran, especially the green infrastructure and its elements in Shano and Zaribar Parks, contribute to respondent’s mental health and overall well-being. The necessary data for this study were collected from 277 respondents using a questionnaire. The questionnaire was randomly distributed both in person and online. The questions were categorized based on 3 indicators directly related to mental health and well-being: perceptual, visual, and functional. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling in Smart-PLS software. Results indicate that the perceptual, visual, and functional indicators in Marivan’s urban parks have a significant impact on the mental health and well-being of residents. Among these indicators, the visual indicator has shown the highest level of influence.