Urban green corridors as multifunctional assets for student wellbeing health and environmental stewardship in Addis Ababa

Urban green infrastructure, particularly linear corridors, offers co-benefits for public health, education, and sustainability, yet evidence from rapidly urbanizing sub-Saharan African cities remains limited. This mixed-methods study investigated associations between proximity to and frequency of use of urban green corridors and student outcomes in three domains: emotional well-being, physical health, and environmental stewardship. Data were collected from 384 secondary school students (mean age 15.8 years) across 12 schools varying in corridor proximity, using surveys (including the New Ecological Paradigm scale, stress reduction, health perceptions, and pro-environmental behaviors) and semi-structured interviews/focus groups with 48 students. Analyses included ANOVA, logistic regression, mediation, and structural equation modeling. Results revealed clear dose–response relationships: students within 500 m of corridors reported significantly higher stress reduction (84% vs. 70%, p = 0.015), NEP scores (3.8/5 vs. 2.9/5, p < 0.001), and pro-environmental actions (6.1 vs. 1.2, p < 0.001) than those beyond 1000 m. Daily users showed 1.9–5.1 times greater benefits across domains than non-users. Socioeconomic status moderated effects (β = 0.15–0.32, p < 0.05), amplifying advantages for higher-resource students—a pattern contrasting European equigenesis findings. Qualitative themes highlighted corridors as restorative sanctuaries, social hubs, and experiential learning sites, though gendered safety and maintenance issues limited equitable access. Urban green corridors serve as multifunctional assets for adolescent well-being, health, and environmental education in resource-constrained urban settings. Equity-focused interventions (e.g., targeted programming, safety enhancements) are essential to prevent reinforcement of socioeconomic disparities and maximize cross-sectoral benefits.