Mental health benefits of urban green space are shaped by green space attributes, visitor characteristics and the activities they undertake

Access to green spaces is limited in urban areas and has proven benefits for the mental health and well-being of residents. However, there remains a paucity of evidence as to how these benefits vary based on a) the attributes of visited sites, b) the characteristics of visitors, and c) the activities undertaken during each visit. To address these evidence gaps, we analysed 10,749 responses to the Adults’ People and Nature Survey (PaNS) for England, a national survey which gathers information on the location and self-reported mental health benefit of a recent green space visit. Our results suggest that women benefit more than men, and benefit varied between age groups – with those aged 40–54 years experiencing the greatest improvement. Larger green spaces and longer visits were associated with greater well-being. Our model also indicates significant positive relationships between reported mental health benefit and frequency of visits, living with a long-term illness, and the following visit activities: watching wildlife, picnicking, running/cycling, and walking. Seasonality was important, with spring visits more likely to result in strong benefit. We identified significant interactions between age and gender, and between visit duration and site area, which supports the conceptual framework that well-being benefits of green space access arise from a web of interrelating factors. Our findings highlight the need for policymakers and planners to ensure urban residents have access to many types of green area to meet their diverse use requirements and mental health needs.