Exploring Age-Specific Determinants of Satisfaction among Urban Forest Visitors and Analyzing Their Effects on Local Environment Perceptions and Policy Support

Background and objective: After the COVID-19 pandemic, urban forests have gained significance as spaces that promote mental and physical recovery and enhance quality of life, with notable variations in usage patterns and purposes across different age groups. This study aimed to identify the determinants of satisfaction among visitors in urban forests by age group and empirically analyze their effects on perceptions of local environment improvement and attitudes toward policy support.Methods: Visitors in urban forests in Incheon Metropolitan City were categorized into young adults (30s and under), middle-aged adults (40s-50s), and older adults (60s and above). Decision tree analysis was employed to explore the combined effects of visitor satisfaction determinants, while logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine their impact on perceptions of local environment and attitudes toward policy support.Results: For young adults, spatial legibility and spatial order were primary determinants of visitor satisfaction; however, this satisfaction did not affect their perceptions of local environment improvement or attitudes toward policy support. Middle-aged adults valued ecological comfort and accessibility, and satisfaction regarding key determinants positively affected their perceptions of local environment and policy support. Older adults were sensitive to basic infrastructure management, and their satisfaction with vegetation management had a strong positive effect on their perceptions of local environment improvement and attitudes toward policy support.Conclusion: This study has significance in that it empirically identified differences in the structure of visitor satisfaction determinants and perception pathways by age group, and suggested directions for user-tailored urban forest management and forest welfare policies based on the findings, addressing the diverse needs of different age groups.