Exploring the Relationship Between Restorativeness, Environmental Risk Perception, and Well-Being: The Case Study of Piazzola sul Brenta

Urban environments in Northeastern Italy, both natural and historical, are exposed to urbanization, climate change, and environmental risks that can impact perceptions of environmental quality and sustainability. However, the relationship between the perceived environmental risks, the related emotions, and the quality of urban living and well-being remains underexplored. The present study, therefore, aims to investigate the link between the perceived risk of adverse events and the emotion felt about the possibility of damage to historically and economically valuable sites, as well as the residents’ restorativeness, well-being, residential satisfaction, and sense of community. Participants completed online questionnaires addressing the following variables: perceived risk of environmental events; emotions of possible damage; restorativeness; well-being; residential satisfaction; and sense of community. The results showed negative relationships between perceived risk and residential satisfaction, well-being and restorativeness, but positive relationships between negative emotions of losing places of economic value and residential satisfaction, sense of community, and restorativeness. The findings highlight the role of emotions and restorativeness with well-being and satisfaction in residents of Piazzola sul Brenta (Italy).