Mediating roles of perceptions and visiting behavior in the relationship between urban greenspace accessibility and personal health: Evidence from Lanzhou, China

There is a growing number of studies about the relationship between accessibility to urban greenspace and personal health outcomes, however, the serial mediation effects of perceived accessibility and visiting behavior in this relationship remain unclear. Relying on survey data collected in Lanzhou, we applied a structural equation model and examined the complex relationships between objective accessibility, perceived accessibility, visiting behavior, and three dimensions of personal health, including physical, mental, and social health. The results showed that: 1) Different components of greenspace objective accessibility had heterogeneous impacts on health. In particular, park quality and distance were negatively and directly correlated with mental health. Closer to park, greenspace coverage ratio, and proximity to the Yellow River had an indirect and positive effect on physical and social health. 2) Using behavior mediated the impact of objective accessibility on personal health. 3) Perceived accessibility and using behavior showed serial mediating roles between objective accessibility and personal health. These findings not only extend the current understanding of the relationship between green space accessibility and health outcomes, but also have important planning implications to promote the usability and health benefits of greenspace.