jailcd2023021: Effects of urban parks on resident use behavior and anxiety relief： A Case Study from Qingdao, China

Abstract

With rapid socioeconomic development and the impact of public health events, human physical health is not only under threat, but anxiety has emerged as a major hidden danger affecting the population's mental health. A growing number of studies have shown that urban green spaces improve public physical and mental health, but the mechanisms by which they do so have not been identified. The study chose five representative urban parks in Qingdao as research sites and collected and analyzed data on users' evaluation of environmental elements, use behaviors, and anxiety to better understand the current use of urban green space and its effects. It was discovered that different environmental factors in urban parks can significantly influence residents' usage behavior and have a restorative effect on residents' anxiety, the users' "relaxation behavior" correlated significantly with greenery quality, accessibility (p<0.01), followed by architectural quality, color perception and cultural characteristics (p<0.05). Park users' "closeness to nature" behavior was correlated with color perception (p<0.05) and cultural perception (p<0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between park users' facility adoption behavior and greenery quality (p<0.05). Water landscape elements in the park were able to have a restorative effect on male state anxiety. And public facilities and greenery quality (p<0.05) were effective in reducing anxiety in females. The results of the study provide a theoretical basis for the enhancement and renewal of urban parks in the post-epidemic era, and help to bring out the health benefits of urban parks scientifically.