Urban Green Space Engagement and Mental Well-Being: The Role of Accessibility, Activity, and Social Interaction among University Students in Kobe, Japan
Urban green spaces are increasingly recognized as important infrastructures for supporting mental well-being and social cohesion in cities. However, their benefits depend not only on accessibility but also on how they are used and experienced. This pilot study examines the relationships between green space accessibility, usage patterns, activity types, and perceived psychosocial outcomes among university students in Kobe City, Japan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 128 students at Kobe City University of Foreign Studies. The questionnaire captured data on accessibility, visit frequency, activity types, and perceived mental health and social interaction. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to assess associations between variables. Results indicate that perceived accessibility was significantly associated with visit frequency (p = 0.022) and inclusivity (p < 0.001). However, visit frequency alone was not significantly related to mental health outcomes (p = 0.654). Instead, activity type showed a stronger association with perceived mental health outcomes (p = 0.007): passive activities such as relaxing were linked to calmness and reduced anxiety, while active activities such as walking were associated with increased energy and stress reduction. Parks, visited by 68% of respondents, showed strong associations with positive emotional outcomes, including happiness (100%) and stress reduction (81%). Frequent users also reported higher levels of social interaction (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that accessibility was associated with more frequent use, but the psychosocial benefits of green spaces are shaped by activity, quality, and inclusivity. Urban planning should therefore move beyond proximity-based approaches toward designing multifunctional and user-oriented green environments that support both mental health and social interaction.
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