Well-Being and Influencing Factors in Urban Ecological Recreation Spaces: A Human–Nature Interaction Perspective

Urban ecological recreational space (UERS), as essential provider of ecosystem services, play a crucial role in enhancing human well-being. Nevertheless, limited research has investigated how various types of human–nature interaction influence well-being. This study takes the Hankou waterfront as the research area, using a questionnaire survey of 318 recreationists. A five-dimension well-being scale and interaction type classification were developed. Mean analysis, one-way ANOVA, and stepwise multiple regression were conducted to assess well-being and influencing factors. Results show that mental health had the highest score, while survival security scored the lowest. NDVI positively influenced all well-being dimensions, while fitness facilities and higher education levels showed negative effects. Recreationists engaged in outdoor work-oriented activities experienced higher levels of physical, mental, and self-actualization well-being than sightseeing- or socially oriented users. These findings expand the theoretical understanding of UERS by incorporating human–nature interaction patterns and offer practical guidance for sustainable urban planning.