Guangzhou adolescents report low frequency and short duration visits to urban greenspacesMost research investigating visitation patterns of urban green spaces have not focused specifically on adolescents. However, adolescents may demonstrate different visitation patterns and motivations for using public parks, greenbelts, and other green spaces. Therefore, decision-makers may have incomplete or inaccurate pictures of why and how adolescents use urban greenspaces. This Chinese study analyzed 651 questionnaire surveys to understand adolescents’ use patterns in urban greenspaces to order to address adolescents’ needs and support their health more effectively.
Set in the city of Guangzhou, the study sought to answer the following research questions: What are adolescents’ use patterns for urban greenspaces? How do sociodemographic factors influence these patterns? Researchers defined urban greenspaces as urban parks, riverside greenbelts, squares and plazas, residential greenspace, streetside gardens, and other public open spaces for outdoor activities. They administered a survey to adolescents (age 10-19) with questions focused on visit patterns (visit frequency and duration, types of greenspaces, recreational activities, companions, travel models) and socio-demographic questions (age, gender, education level). Survey responses were analyzed statistically to determine significant patterns and sociodemographic differences in youths’ use of urban greenspaces.
The most significant result was that adolescents in Guangzhou demonstrated low frequency and short duration visits to urban greenspaces. They visited urban parks and riverside greenbelts more than other greenspaces; walking and appreciating beautiful scenery were the most frequent outdoor activities in these spaces. More than half of adolescents visited greenspaces independently—with family members more frequent companions than classmates and peers. Most accessed greenspace on foot versus public transportation or personal automobiles. Age was the only significant sociodemographic variable related to frequency and duration of visits—with younger teens visiting parks more frequently than older teens but older teens generally staying in parks for longer periods of time. However, preferred types of greenspace varied by age and gender; recreational activities varied by age, gender, and education levels; and both companionship and modes of travel also varied by age, gender, and education levels.
These results showed that adolescents in Guangzhou, China do not utilize urban parks as frequently as adults. This pattern suggests that many adolescents may be disconnected from nature. Public park advocates should consider that youth generally preferred multi-functional greenspaces, natural greenspaces, and spaces adjacent to water. In addition, youth and adults both valued walking, appreciating scenery, and sitting quietly in urban greenspaces; at the same time, adolescents cited sports, cycling, and running more frequently than local adults. Likewise, decision-makers could leverage the popularity of family group visits with family-oriented initiatives that might encourage youth to visit public parks more frequently. The authors ultimately call for policies and public spaces that are more responsive to the specific visit patterns and socio-demographic variations revealed by the questionnaire results.
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