Green at eye level: Exploring the impacts of visible greenery on physical activity among university students

Urban green spaces are vital for promoting physical activity and have a recognised positive impact on public health. Research consistently shows high levels of physical inactivity among adolescents, with their exercise habits influencing future travel behaviours. While most studies focus on neighbourhood settings, this study explores university campuses in China. Unlike Western campuses, Chinese universities are typically enclosed by physical walls, presenting unique spatial dynamics. This research involved a survey of 811 students across ten universities in Guangzhou, employing the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to assess their levels of physical activity. To evaluate greenery from a pedestrian's perspective, we applied a deep learning semantic analysis of street-view images. This method is consistent with human visual experience, providing a novel way to analyse campus green spaces. A multilevel linear regression model was used to explore the link between green space exposure and student physical activity within these enclosed environments. The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between accessible green spaces at eye-level and students’ physical activity. In addition, active travel behaviours, such as walking, correlate positively with greater physical activity among students. However, our study found no significant connection between green spaces analysed via remote sensing and student activity levels. These insights underscore the importance of integrating green spaces into urban planning to foster healthier communities.