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Understanding greenspace use: survey findings from a multi-ethnic community study

Research Output:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
Conference contribution

Abstract

In the UK, disparities in urban greenspace use persist, particularly among low-income and ethnically diverse communities. Understanding how people engage with greenspaces, and the barriers and facilitators influencing use, is critical to improving equitable access. This study examined patterns of greenspace engagement within an ethnically diverse population and applied the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behaviour) to identify determinants of use. A cross-sectional survey, conducted across two ethnically diverse towns in southeast England investigated greenspace usage, including activities and reasons for using greenspaces and included the Brief Measure of Behavior Change (COM-B). The survey was shared online via Qualtrics and widely disseminated in the local community via bilingual fieldworkers and community networks. The sample comprised 906 participants (60.7% female, mean age 38 ± 16.37 years). The findings revealed that the use of greenspaces was low with around 33% visiting greenspaces frequently (at least once a week). Older people, those with higher levels of deprivation and/or those from a minority ethnic background were all shown to be the lowest users of greenspaces. The findings also confirmed that the types of activities and reasons for visiting greenspaces were shown to vary by a range of socio-demographic characteristics. The COM-B model was shown to be a useful explanatory framework with physical capability and motivation identified as significant predictors of frequency of greenspace use. We now encourage future research to consider what factors underpin motivation and the opportunities to use greenspaces, and how these vary across the wider population.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
Conference contribution

Host publication Subtitle

Integrating Green Spaces and 24-Hour Movement Behaviours for Combating NCDs. Book of abstracts

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 312

Publication milestones

  • Published - 09/09/2026

Publication status

Published - 09/09/2026

Publisher

University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

ISBN (Electronic)

9789612978792

Host publication title

HEPA EUROPE 2026: Green Pathways to Health

Access to documents

Related Event

Title

HEPA EUROPE 2026: Green Pathways to Health

Event type

Conference

Date

08/09/2026 - 10/09/2026

Location

LjubljanaSlovenia