Health Impact Mechanisms of Urban Parks on the Elderly from the Perspective of Behavioral Activity-Spatial Environment Typological Differentiation

YAO Wenfei; MU Zhiyue; DUAN Haoyan; LUO Qingzi; CHEN Zhuo; MI Longfei

doi:10.19798/j.cnki.2096-6946.2025.03.005

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Industrial & Engineering Design ›› 2025, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (3) : 34-44. DOI: 10.19798/j.cnki.2096-6946.2025.03.005

Urban Green Spaces and Public Health(Chief Editor of Special Topic LIN Guangsi)

Health Impact Mechanisms of Urban Parks on the Elderly from the Perspective of Behavioral Activity-Spatial Environment Typological Differentiation

YAO Wenfei^*, MU Zhiyue, DUAN Haoyan, LUO Qingzi, CHEN Zhuo, MI Longfei

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Abstract

Urban parks are the main venues for the daily outdoor activities of the elderly. High-quality urban park space environments play a significant role in enhancing the living quality of elderly urban residents, promoting their participation in activities, and maintaining their physical and mental health. This paper takes the elderly as the research object and conducts on-site investigations in Zhongshan Park, Qingdao City, to obtain data on the demographic characteristics of the elderly, their park usage behaviors, and their evaluations on the park space environment. By constructing a multiple regression model, the study analyzes the impact of urban park space environments on the elderly's usage behaviors and their physical and mental health. The research findings show that: Physical fitness activities have the most prominent promoting impact on physical health, while cultural and entertainment activities have a significant positive impact on mental health; The impact of urban park space environments on the mental health of the elderly is greater than that on their physical health; Among the various elements of the space environment, the main drivers for physical health are functional support elements, while the key regulators for mental health focus on perceptual experiences and cultural empowerment. This study can provide beneficial guidance for improving the activity enthusiasm of the elderly, enhancing their physical and mental health through optimizing the elderly-oriented renewal of urban parks, and for scientifically implementing the renewal and transformation of urban parks in line with the orientation of healthy aging.

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urban parks / the elderly / physical and mental health / usage behavior / space environment

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YAO Wenfei, MU Zhiyue, DUAN Haoyan, LUO Qingzi, CHEN Zhuo, MI Longfei. Health Impact Mechanisms of Urban Parks on the Elderly from the Perspective of Behavioral Activity-Spatial Environment Typological Differentiation[J]. Industrial & Engineering Design. 2025, 7(3): 34-44 https://doi.org/10.19798/j.cnki.2096-6946.2025.03.005

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