Understanding Urban Green Space as a Health Resource: A Qualitative Comparison of Visit Motivation and Derived Effects among Park Users in Sheffield, UK

Abstract

With increasing interest in the use of urban green space to promote human health, there is a need to understand the extent to which park users conceptualize these places as a resource for health and well-being. This study sought to examine park users’ own reasons for and benefits from green space usage and compare these with concepts and constructs in existing person-environment-health theories and models of health. Conducted in 13 public green spaces in Sheffield, UK, we undertook a qualitative content analysis of 312 park users’ responses to open-ended interview questions and identified a breadth, depth and salience of visit motivators and derived effects. Findings highlight a discrepancy between reasons for visiting and derived effects from the use of urban green space. Motivations emphasized walking, green space qualities, and children. Derived effects highlighted relaxation, positive emotions within the self and towards the place, and spiritual well-being. We generate a taxonomy of motivations and derived effects that could facilitate operationalization within empirical research and articulate a conceptual framework linking motivators to outcomes for investigating green space as a resource for human health and well-being.

Relaxation Effect of a 2-Hour Walk in Kumano-Kodo Forest

“…Similar results are obtained even after only about 15 to 20 minutes of walking in the forest [8][9][10][11][12]. This highlights the importance of green spaces in the city [14] and garden walking [15]. However, the specific effects of the forest are not necessarily clear.…”

What is the role of trees and remnant vegetation in attracting people to urban parks?

“…On the one hand, the wellbeing outcomes of parks might directly motivate people to use them (Kaplan and Kaplan 1989;Home et al 2012). Indeed, experiencing nature is a commonly stated reason for people to visit public green space (Chiesura 2004;Irvine et al 2010Irvine et al , 2013. However, while people often express a desire to interact with nature, field observations in Sheffield, UK, revealed that once inside parks visitors tended to prefer locations with lower tree cover (Irvine et al 2010).…”

Comparison of place attachment influence on the level of happiness of people living near residential parks

“…Several studies have also shown that living near green space has a positive influence on mental health [4,5] and happiness [6][7][8]. Studies conducted by Beyer et al [5] show that by living in a neighborhood with more green space is associated with better mental health levels than living in neighborhoods with less green space.…”