The Effects of Visit Characteristics in Neighborhood Forest on Individual Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Recently, the importance and effectiveness of neighborhood forests have been increasing in relation to the quality of life of urban residents. However, there are very few domestic studies that analyzed the correlation between visit characteristics and life satisfaction. Therefore, the study aims to understand how people use the forest for recreation and determine how visit characteristics in neighborhood forests affect individual life satisfaction(ILS). A nationwide survey (N=2,624) was conducted on visit frequency, proximity to forest, means of transportation, forest activities, and life satisfaction. To measure ILS, we used the three factors (personal, relative, collective) of COMOSWB (Concise Measure of Subjective Well-being) developed by Seo et al.(2011). The analysis shows that people usually visit the forest located within the distance of 10-30 minutes from their homes 1-2 times a month on foot for hiking/walking (forest bathing). In particular, the older visitors(over 60s) tend to visit the forest more often than the younger ones (20s). Furthermore, more frequent visitors are more likely to live near the forest. As a result of analyzing the correlation between visit characteristics and ILS by controlling demographic variables, it was found that 'visit frequency' had a positive effect on ILS, and 'proximity to the forest' did not have a statistically significant effect on ILS. In other words, residents who live near the forests are more likely to be satisfied with their lives by visiting frequently. The significance of the study is that it statistically determined that visit frequency is a key factor for ILS. Future studies should take into account the various qualitative factors of forest visit such as vegetation, quantity and types of forest, which will contribute to setting the direction for urban forest development and management.

Subjective Well-Being as a Potential Policy Indicator in the Context of Urbanization and Forest Restoration

“…Second, the measurement of explanatory variables may be inappropriate. The intensity of forest-related activities was found to correlate with the general SWB or the evaluation of forest spaces for recreational purposes [29,31]. The current models assess the levels of forest-related activities as yes-or-no experiences during the past year.…”

“…Several studies have further explored the impact of interactions, not only physical closeness, with nature on SWB. Jang et al reported that the frequency of forest visits is more relevant to SWB than the distance to urban forests in South Korea [29]. It was found in Italy and the UK that longer and more frequent visits to urban green spaces improved the perceived benefits and well-being of respondents [30].…”

Influence of Cultural Landscapes on Visitors’ Behavior in the Context of COVID-19 Social Distancing Policies: A Case Study of Open Public Spaces Inside Gyeongbok Palace

“…Future heritage policies should investigate the impact of cultural landscapes on visitors' behavior to improve the quality of people's lives (Jang et al, 2019;Stegmeijer et al, 2021;United Nations, 2020). The negative influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on people's mental health and quality of life should also be considered (Ban, 2021;Choi, 2021;Lee, 2020).…”

“…Hong et al (2020) also suggest that place attachment is developed through a continuous process of interaction between visitors and all the inherent attributes of a place, as well as the external elements. Therefore, visitors' experiences and understanding of a site's importance are related to generating a psychological impact and place attachment (Jang et al, 2019;Kim and Miller, 2019).…”

“…quality of life using health and environmental indicators . In parallel, the South Korean government has created initiatives to enhance citizens' quality of life and tools such as the "Korean Quality of Life Index" and "Index of Well-being in Culture and Leisure" (Jang et al, 2019). For example, South Korean cities are implementing policies to improve their residents' quality of life by providing free access to urban cultural heritage sites, allowing more people to enjoy these sites and improve their mental health (Lee, 2008).…”