Pathways linking urban green infrastructure to residents’ well-being: The mediating roles of ecosystem services and physical activity in Shanghai

Urban green infrastructure (GI) plays a pivotal role in enhancing residents’ well-being. While most existing studies explore the link between GI and human well-being primarily through the lens of urban ecosystem services (UES), the moderating impact of physical activity (PA) has garnered relatively little attention. This study extends current theoretical models by integrating PA into the UES framework, proposing that urban GI influences human well-being through the mediating roles of both UES and PA. Taking Shanghai as a case study, we empirically test this hypothesis and identify the mediation pathways of UES and PA. A survey of 419 urban residents was conducted to quantify the quality of GI, the contributions of UES and PA, and the overall level of human well-being. Structural equation modeling was then employed to validate the proposed relationships. Our findings indicate that (1) urban GI positively influences human well-being through UES and residents’ PA, with correlation coefficients of 0.8 and 0.31, respectively; and (2) natural elements and landscape design within GI significantly enhance UES, while the presence of artificial facilities and effective management practices boost the frequency of residents’ PA. To promote human well-being, it is recommended that Shanghai’s GI strategies prioritize enhancing natural elements while supplementing them with sports and recreational facilities. This approach would strengthen multiple UES and provide more opportunities for residents to engage in PA. Overall, our findings advance the theoretical understanding of the pathways from GI to human well-being and support the adoption of human-centered design and management practices for urban GI.