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Attitudes and Behaviors toward the Use of Public and Private Green Space during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammad Reza Khalilnezhad

    (Faculty of Arts, University of Birjand, Birjand 9718854987, Iran
    Co-first author.)

  • Francesca Ugolini

    (Institute of Bioeconomy–National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
    Co-first author.)

  • Luciano Massetti

    (Institute of Bioeconomy–National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy)

Abstract

This paper reports the results of an exploratory study carried out in Birjand, Iran, during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was to explore the behavioral change in the use and the motivation to visit a green space (public or private) during the pandemic as compared to the pre-pandemic period, the effect of green spaces (private and public) on users’ feelings, the relations between the extent to which the access to green spaces was missed, and characteristics of respondents and the place they live. A survey was carried out through an online questionnaire in winter 2020 and about 400 responses were collected. The results showed a decrease in visitation of public green spaces during the pandemic, and higher visitation of private green spaces such as gardens or courtyards by those with access. In addition, both public and private green spaces enhance positive feelings and decrease the negative ones. Respondents missed access to green spaces, especially when their visitation before the pandemic was high, and women missed them more than men. Therefore, private green spaces might represent an opportunity for psychological respite in time of a pandemic, but also for socialization. The study reports respondents’ useful suggestions for urban landscape planning for the city of Birjand that might also be useful for other cities in dry lands; improving the quality of green spaces beyond the quantity may play a role in enhancing the connection to nature in the time of a pandemic, with positive effects on mental health, and this can also can improve recreation opportunities and reduce inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammad Reza Khalilnezhad & Francesca Ugolini & Luciano Massetti, 2021. "Attitudes and Behaviors toward the Use of Public and Private Green Space during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-22, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:10:p:1085-:d:655984
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Argyro Anna Kanelli & Margarita Kokkinaki & Marios-Dimitrios Sinvare & Chrisovalantis Malesios & Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos & Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, 2023. "Keep Calm and Go Out: Urban Nature Exposure, Mental Health, and Perceived Value during the COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    4. Mateusz Ciski & Krzysztof Rząsa, 2023. "Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression in the Investigation of Local COVID-19 Anomalies Based on Population Age Structure in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-23, May.
    5. Shiqi Wang & Ang Li, 2022. "Impacts of COVID-19 Lockdown on Use and Perception of Urban Green Spaces and Demographic Group Differences," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, November.
    6. Krzysztof Rząsa & Mateusz Ciski, 2022. "Influence of the Demographic, Social, and Environmental Factors on the COVID-19 Pandemic—Analysis of the Local Variations Using Geographically Weighted Regression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-26, September.
    7. Diana Dushkova & Maria Ignatieva & Anastasia Konstantinova & Viacheslav Vasenev & Elvira Dovletyarova & Yury Dvornikov, 2022. "Human-Nature Interactions during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Moscow, Russia: Exploring the Role of Contact with Nature and Main Lessons from the City Responses," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-31, May.
    8. Juscidalva Rodrigues de Almeida & Gustavo Benedito Medeiros Alves & Reginaldo de Oliveira Nunes & Teresa Dias, 2022. "Despite Being Distinguished as the 2020 European Green Capital, Lisbon Has Lost Public Green Areas over the Previous Decade," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-15, September.
    9. Xiu-Juan Qiao & Yizhi Liu & Jing Feng, 2022. "Evaluating the Landscape Quality of Residential Communities: A Case Study of the Chinese City Yangling," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Yusuke Ueno & Sadahisa Kato & Tomoka Mase & Yoji Funamoto & Keiichi Hasegawa, 2022. "Human Flow Dataset Reveals Changes in Citizens’ Outing Behaviors including Greenspace Visits before and during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kanazawa, Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.

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