Scholarlink

<p>Urban green spaces are crucial for supporting physical, mental, and social health, particularly during public health crises. Perceived health benefits capture individuals’ subjective evaluations of how green spaces contribute to well-being, shaping behavioral patterns and public support for urban greening. However, little is known about how abrupt policy changes affect these perceptions. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed severe restrictions on urban life, especially in densely populated cities. In late 2022, China lifted the requirement for negative nucleic acid tests to access public spaces and transportation. This policy shift reduced barriers to green space use but may also increas infection risks. Using survey data from Shanghai collected during the pandemic, this study applies a regression discontinuity design to estimate the impact of COVID-19 policy adjustment on residents’ perceived health benefits of green spaces. Results reveal a significant improvement in perceived mental health benefits, while perceived physical and social health benefits remained unchanged or declined. These findings suggest that while policy relaxation enhanced mental relief from nature, concerns about infection may limit physical and social engagement. The study highlights how public health policies reshape perceived benefits of green spaces, offering insights for planning resilient, health-supportive cities.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

The Perceived Health Benefits of Urban Green Spaces During Post-Pandemic Period

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月18日

查看全文
  • Chenjie Jia,
  • Longfeng Wu

摘要

Urban green spaces are crucial for supporting physical, mental, and social health, particularly during public health crises. Perceived health benefits capture individuals’ subjective evaluations of how green spaces contribute to well-being, shaping behavioral patterns and public support for urban greening. However, little is known about how abrupt policy changes affect these perceptions. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed severe restrictions on urban life, especially in densely populated cities. In late 2022, China lifted the requirement for negative nucleic acid tests to access public spaces and transportation. This policy shift reduced barriers to green space use but may also increas infection risks. Using survey data from Shanghai collected during the pandemic, this study applies a regression discontinuity design to estimate the impact of COVID-19 policy adjustment on residents’ perceived health benefits of green spaces. Results reveal a significant improvement in perceived mental health benefits, while perceived physical and social health benefits remained unchanged or declined. These findings suggest that while policy relaxation enhanced mental relief from nature, concerns about infection may limit physical and social engagement. The study highlights how public health policies reshape perceived benefits of green spaces, offering insights for planning resilient, health-supportive cities.