Behaviour–Affect Pathways and Sociodemographic Moderation in the Well-being Mechanism of Urban Parks: Evidence From Yangzhou, a ‘Park City’

As urban park systems have developed worldwide, urban planning across different regions has exhibited a converging trend, characterised by ecological networks comprising multi-level green spaces and greenways. This study explores the mechanism linking park environments to users’ perceived well-being, taking Yangzhou as a case study. Based on questionnaire surveys and interviews, this study employs structural equation modelling and identifies four main findings: (1) the well-being mechanism of urban parks operates through behaviour–affect pathways; (2) accessibility and affordance predict perceived well-being indirectly through behavioural patterns and place attachment, respectively; (3) place attachment serves as a key mediator linking temporal regularity and perceived well-being; (4) pathways to temporal regularity are moderated by age, whereas the subsequent pathway to place attachment is moderated by socioeconomic status and age. Furthermore, evidence-based recommendations for the development of urban park systems are proposed, highlighting subjective accessibility, functional integration, and social inclusion.