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The Impact of Urban Recreation Environment on Residents’ Happiness—Based on a Case Study in China

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  • Lei Kang

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Zhaoping Yang

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Fang Han

    (State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

Abstract

Rapid urbanization promotes the expansion of urban tourism and recreation functions, but it also brings many problems, which affect residents’ happiness. Previous studies have emphasized the direct impact of urban recreation environment on happiness, and few have explored the indirect impact of urban recreation environment on happiness through subjective evaluation. Based on the survey data of nearly 10,000 permanent residents in 40 key tourism cities in China, this paper establishes a theoretical framework of the direct and indirect impact of urban recreation environment on happiness. The objective evaluation of natural recreation environment and sociocultural recreation environment has an important influence on happiness, but the influence of natural recreation environment is greater than that of sociocultural recreation environment. Individual subjective satisfaction with urban recreation environment mediates the relationship between urban objective environment and happiness. Urban parks have a positive effect on happiness, while tourist attractions have a negative effect. The influence of urban location on happiness is nonlinear. The high-income group is more sensitive to the recreation environment, while the low-income group is less sensitive to the recreation environment. These findings provide insights for further improving citizens’ quality of life and designing urban construction in developing countries under the conditions of rapid urbanization.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei Kang & Zhaoping Yang & Fang Han, 2021. "The Impact of Urban Recreation Environment on Residents’ Happiness—Based on a Case Study in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:10:p:5549-:d:555659
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Xiaohuan Xie & Yinrong Li & Ruobing Wang & Zhonghua Gou, 2023. "Park Recreation Intention and Satisfaction of Blue-Collar Workers Based on the ACSI Model: A Case Study of Anning Industrial Park in Yunnan," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-26, March.
    4. Seong-A Kim & Heungsoon Kim, 2023. "Path Modeling between Urban Factors and Happiness of People with Disabilities: Using Partial Least Squares Multi-Group Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Qingliu Ren & Baoshi He & Xiaodong Chen & Jiali Han & Fang Han, 2021. "The Mechanism and Mediating Effect of the “Perception–Emotion–Behaviour” Chain of Tourists at World Natural Heritage Sites—A Case Study from Bayanbulak, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-19, November.

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