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Exploring the Relationship between Walking and Emotional Health in China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhenjun Zhu

    (College of Automobile and Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

  • Hongsheng Chen

    (School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China)

  • Jianxiao Ma

    (College of Automobile and Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

  • Yudong He

    (College of Automobile and Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

  • Junlan Chen

    (School of Transportation, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China)

  • Jingrui Sun

    (College of Automobile and Traffic Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

Abstract

Walking has a positive impact on people’s emotional health. However, in the case of serious air pollution, it is controversial whether walking exercise can still improve individuals’ emotional health. Using data from the 2014 wave of the China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey, this study explored the relationship between walking and emotional health with different levels of environmental pollution. The results indicated that respondents who took regular walks had better emotional health than those who did not walk regularly. For those whose main mode of physical exercise was walking, the average number of walks per week was significantly and positively correlated with their emotional health; however, the average duration of the walk had no significant impact on their emotional health. Moreover, for those whose main mode of physical exercise was walking and who lived in neighborhoods with a polluted environment, regular walking still had a positive impact on their emotional health. This suggests that even if environmental pollution is serious, walking still plays an important role in regulating individuals’ mental health. We propose that in order to promote the emotional health of residents, it is necessary to create more public spaces for outdoor activities and simultaneously increase efforts to control environmental pollution.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhenjun Zhu & Hongsheng Chen & Jianxiao Ma & Yudong He & Junlan Chen & Jingrui Sun, 2020. "Exploring the Relationship between Walking and Emotional Health in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8804-:d:451928
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Eun Jung Kim & Suin Jin, 2023. "Walk Score and Neighborhood Walkability: A Case Study of Daegu, South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-12, February.
    2. Ming Li & Wei Yu & Jun Zhang, 2023. "Clustering Analysis of Multilayer Complex Network of Nanjing Metro Based on Traffic Line and Passenger Flow Big Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, June.
    3. Yubin Yuan & Xueyan Ji & Xiaoming Yang & Chen Wang & Shamsulariffin Samsudin & Roxana Dev Omar Dev, 2022. "The Effect of Persistence of Physical Exercise on the Positive Psychological Emotions of Primary School Students under the STEAM Education Concept," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.
    4. Yibang Zhang & Yukun Zou & Zhenjun Zhu & Xiucheng Guo & Xin Feng, 2022. "Evaluating Pedestrian Environment Using DeepLab Models Based on Street Walkability in Small and Medium-Sized Cities: Case Study in Gaoping, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-23, November.

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