Unequal landscapes, unequal lives? Environmental determinants of well-being across German districts

Abstract Background Natural landscapes positively impact health and wellbeing, but also need to be accessible, creating a conflict between necessary infrastructure and natural landscapes. We investigate the relation between landscape aesthetic quality (LAQ), accessibility and individual wellbeing. We focus on discrepancies between coal-mining districts and other regions, accounting for ongoing changes in landscape and their consequences. Methods Cross-sectional data from 24,394 adults in the 2022 German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) were merged with district-level indicators, including LAQ, its subcomponents, accessibility, and socio-environmental factors. Descriptive and inferential statistics examine associations between indicators and the median well-being of respondents at district level. Multilevel models assess the relationship between individual-level outcomes and district-level characteristics, adjusting for relevant covariates. Results Landscapes in coal-mining districts are overall less attractive. LAQ, especially landscape uniqueness correlates positively with wellbeing. However, results indicate non-linear relationships: a very high degree of LAQ even seems to negatively influence wellbeing. Pending further analyses, we hypothesise that LAQ only has a positive effect as long as landscapes are accessible. Also, the results suggest a tipping point: for example, higher levels of uniqueness are associated with increased well-being only up to a certain threshold, beyond which the effect plateaus. Conclusions LAQ enhances wellbeing, emphasising the relevance of recultivation of mining sites. In particular, comparatively monotonous areas should be recultivated to enhance landscape uniqueness. At the same time, these landscapes need to be accessible to unfold their potential. Key messages • Landscape attractiveness should be taken into account in regional development measures. • Regions undergoing recultivation promise an ideal context for longitudinal research.