Pasanen et al. (2018) investigate the synergistic relationship between everyday physical activity in green environments and perceived psychological restoration, positing that urban natural spaces contribute not only to physical health but also to emotional well-being and mental clarity; their study, conducted in Finland, reveals that individuals who engage in routine physical activities—such as walking or cycling—in natural settings report higher levels of mood improvement, stress reduction, and attentional recovery than those active in built environments; the authors draw on restoration theory and attention restoration theory (ART) to explain how natural features—like greenery, water, and biodiversity—foster a sense of being away, fascination, and compatibility, which collectively replenish depleted cognitive and emotional resources; notably, their findings emphasize that restorative experiences are not confined to extraordinary escapes into wilderness but are accessible in everyday interactions with urban nature, especially when these environments support habitual use and movement; the study also highlights key moderators such as individual nature connectedness, environmental preferences, and the perceived quality of green spaces, suggesting that the restorative effect is both universal and subjective; in sum, the research underscores the importance of integrating accessible, high-quality green infrastructure into urban planning as a cost-effective public health strategy that not only encourages physical activity but also enhances resilience, mood regulation, and social cohesion through routine, embodied engagement with nature.
