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Effects of urban green spaces on residents’ well-being

Author

Listed:
  • Ben Ma

    (Beijing Forestry University)

  • Tiantian Zhou

    (Beijing Forestry University)

  • Shuo Lei

    (Beijing Forestry University)

  • Yali Wen

    (Beijing Forestry University)

  • Theint Theint Htun

    (Beijing Forestry University)

Abstract

Beijing is undergoing continuous urbanization, and considering the individual availability of urban green spaces is essential for alleviating the ecological problems created by this urbanization, especially in relation to improving residents’ well-being. To prove this effect, this article analyzed the social, mental, and physical well-being of current Beijing residents to determine their level of satisfaction, then applied the seemingly unrelated regression model to study how Beijing’s urban green spaces impact this well-being. The result showed that the higher the degree of resident participation with green spaces, the higher their well-being. Such participation includes actions like the frequency at which residents visit a park or green space. A significant inverted U-shaped effect was found between residents’ well-being and their distance from a park or public green space, indicating that residents with the highest well-being live between 1 and 5 km away, and residents with the lowest well-being live over 10 km away. Further, age, education, career status, marital status, years of residence in Beijing, residential area, and average income per month also have a significant impact on residents’ well-being. This study shows that green spaces can have a very positive effect on people’s welfare and provides support for their further promotion.

Suggested Citation

  • Ben Ma & Tiantian Zhou & Shuo Lei & Yali Wen & Theint Theint Htun, 2019. "Effects of urban green spaces on residents’ well-being," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(6), pages 2793-2809, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:21:y:2019:i:6:d:10.1007_s10668-018-0161-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-018-0161-8
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