Assessing effects of the quality of urban green spaces on people`s health and physical activity

Abstract

The importance of urban green spaces, which is accepted as an important indicator of the quality of life in cities, is increasing day by day along with urbanization. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the quality of urban green spaces and people’s physical activity levels and health. The data of this study were collected in face-to-face interviews with 394 users who actively use urban green spaces for physical activity on April 1 to May 15, 2016 in seven different urban green spaces in Aydın city center. While the socio-economic status of participants was statistically controlled, the relationships between the quality of urban green spaces and people`s physical activity levels, stress levels, mental and physical health were examined. In the regression analysis, a positive relationship between people` s physical activity levels and close distance to urban green space from home was found. On the other hand, there were positive relationships between people`s physical activities and the maintenance and cleanliness of the urban green spaces. Whereas positive relationships were found between largeness and cleanliness of urban green spaces and less stress. In addition, a positive relationship was found between open and visible urban green spaces and better physical health. It was also found that the duration of physical activity was positively related to better physical health. The results of this study suggest that urban green spaces should be close to people`s homes in terms of their physical activities and health. Certain quality of urban green spaces would help people to be more physically active and healthier in terms of mental and physical health.    

Keywords

• Urban green spaces,Physical activity,Green space quality,Stress,Mental and physical health

Kentsel yeşil alanların kalitesinin insan sağlığı ve fiziksel aktivitesi üzerindeki etkisinin incelenmesi

Abstract

Kentlerde yaşam kalitesinin önemli bir göstergesi olarak kabul edilen kentsel yeşil alanların önemi şehirleşmeyle birlikte her geçen gün artmaktadır. Bu sebeple, bu çalışmanın amacı kentsel yeşil alanların kalitesi ile insanların fiziksel aktivite düzeyleri ve sağlıkları arasındaki ilişkiyi belirlemektir. Bu çalışmanın verileri, Aydın kent merkezinde bulunan yedi farklı kentsel yeşil alanda, 1 Nisan-15 Mayıs 2016 tarihlerinde kentsel yeşil alanları fiziksel aktivite için aktif olarak kullanan 394 kullanıcıyla yüz yüze bireysel görüşmeler yapılarak toplanmıştır. Katılımcıların sosyo-ekonomik durumları istatistiki olarak kontrol edilerek çoklu regresyon analiz yöntemi ile kentsel yeşil alanların kalitesi ile insanların fiziksel aktivite düzeyleri ve stres seviyeleri, ruh ve beden sağlıkları arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. Çoklu regresyon analizi sonucunda insanların fiziksel aktiviteleri ile yeşil alanların eve yakınlığı arasında pozitif anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur. Diğer taraftan, insanların fiziksel aktiviteleri ile yeşil alanların bakımlı ve temiz olması arasında pozitif anlamlı ilişki tespit edilmiştir. Yeşil alanların büyüklüğü ve temizliğinin ise daha az stres ile, yeşil alanların açık ve görünür olmasının da daha iyi fiziksel sağlıkla pozitif anlamlı ilişkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Ayrıca fiziksel aktivite süresinin daha iyi fiziksel sağlık ile pozitif anlamlı ilişkili olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bu araştırmanın sonuçları yeşil alanların insanların fiziksel aktiviteleri ve sağlıkları açısından evlerine yakın mesafelerde olması gerektiğini önermektedir. Belirli kalitedeki kentsel yeşil alanların insanların fiziksel olarak daha aktif, ruh ve beden sağlığı açısından da daha sağlıklı olmalarına katkı yapacağını göstermektedir    

Keywords

• Kentsel yeşil alanlar,fiziksel aktivite,yeşil alan kalitesi,stres,ruh ve beden sağlığı

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