From greenery to community: exploring the mediating role of loneliness in social cohesion

This study examines how vegetation conditions influence perceptions of societal fragmentation, with loneliness serving as a key mediating factor. Using a multi-level analytical framework, the research integrates district-level vegetation indices derived from remote sensing data with individual-level survey responses collected during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. The analysis investigates how environmental contexts shape social cohesion through social-psychological processes. The findings reveal that districts with higher vegetation levels experience reduced loneliness, which in turn decreases distrust, perceived exploitation, and social indifference, indicating stronger community bonds. Conversely, areas with lower vegetation levels report higher loneliness, exacerbating perceptions of societal disintegration and social vulnerability. By demonstrating the critical mediating role of loneliness, this study highlights the broader social significance of environmental conditions. It advocates for urban greening initiatives as an effective policy strategy to strengthen social cohesion and enhance community well-being, particularly during social emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.