Happiness and life satisfaction associated with greenspace visits, greenspace type, and nature in self: findings from the England’s people and nature cross-sectional survey

2026/06/18 by Stephanie Wilkie · 1 voice
Environmental Science · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Place Attachment and Urban Studies #Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction #Urban Green Space and Health

paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/23748834.2026.2677401

openalex publication_date 2026/06/18 · openalex created_date 2026/06/19 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/20

Abstract

Subjective wellbeing includes happiness and life satisfaction; and greenspace use is considered an important influence on both. This study investigated variations in happiness and life satisfaction based on greenspace visits, type of greenspace, and differences in nature-self relationships using the People and Nature Survey. Greenspace visits generally were associated with higher levels of both outcomes; a pattern observed up to a fortnight after, irrespective of greenspace type. Higher levels of nature as part of the respondent’s self-concept were associated with being happier and more satisfied with life. The findings should encourage landscape, urban design, and environmental social science professionals to integrate individual differences when developing future greenspaces, so that they are accessible and relevant to a range of users, supporting use that may be associated with greater happiness and life satisfaction.

Citations

• The connectedness to nature scale: A measure of individuals’ feeling in community with nature
• The City and Self-Identity
• Advances in subjective well-being research
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations.
• Healthy cities: a visual conceptual framework for moving health knowledge into urban planning practice

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