Research on Restorative Benefits and Stress Relief Approaches in Urban Green Space for Different Stress Threshold Groups

Urban green spaces, as vital land use components, play a crucial role in promoting public mental health and well-being. This study investigates the differential restorative benefits and stress relief pathways in urban green spaces for populations with varying stress thresholds. This study employed a controlled experiment (pre-test–free activity–post-test) with 120 park users, integrating subjective scales (DASS-21, SRRS, etc.). We innovatively stratified participants by stress threshold to analyze recovery mechanisms. Key findings reveal: (1) Park visits were associated with significant restorative benefits across all stress groups (p < 0.05), yet the recovery patterns and potential pathways appear to be stress-threshold-dependent. (2) Our findings suggest distinct patterns: low-stress individuals benefit via cognitive-behavioral routes (environmental awareness, dynamic activities), while medium-high stress groups rely more on physiological regulation (environmental enclosure, static relaxation). (3) Crucially, these mechanisms suggest stratified landscape design strategies: multi-sensory interactive spaces for low-stress, static rest areas for medium-stress, and low-interference, high-enclosure meditative environments for high-stress individuals. However, given the single-group pre-post design, observed benefits should be interpreted as associations and plausible pathways rather than definitive causal effects. By introducing stress threshold stratification into restorative landscape research, this study provides actionable, evidence-based guidelines for optimizing urban green space planning and design. It offers a crucial scientific foundation for creating healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable urban environments that effectively address diverse mental health needs and contribute to public health promotion through sustainable land use practices.