Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40639962›Full record

ArticleHealth promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals2025

The Perceived Role of Green Spaces on Mental Well-Being in Adults Living in Regional Communities: A Qualitative Study.

Hirbo Shore Roba, Stuart J H Biddle, Tracy Kolbe-Alexander

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. The Perceived Role of Green Spaces on Mental Well-Being in Adults Living in Regional Communities: A Qualitative Study.Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Hirbo Shore RobaSchool of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2454-5200
Stuart J H BiddleCentre for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Australia.
Tracy Kolbe-AlexanderSchool of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

issue addressedResearch in Australia has shown that green spaces enhance mental health. However, most studies focused on urban areas, leaving regional settings underexplored. This study explores the perceived role and features of green spaces in supporting the mental health and well-being of adults in regional Southeast Queensland, Australia.

methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 community residents aged 42-76 years from the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) area, and two focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with eight council officers. Transcripts were analysed thematically using NVivo.

resultsThree key themes were identified regarding the role of green spaces: stress relief and restoration, spaces for physical and social activities, and barriers to and facilitators of green space use and activity engagement. Participants described green spaces as retreats from daily demands, fostering stress recovery, emotional balance and self-reflection. Green spaces also supported physical activity and encouraged social interaction. Accessibility, perceived safety, maintenance and environmental conditions were identified as factors influencing usage and associated health benefits of green spaces.

conclusionGreen space in regional settings offers multifaceted benefits for mental health and well-being, including restorative effects, opportunities for physical activity and social connection. However, accessibility, safety and seasonal challenges influence the use of green spaces and health outcomes. SO WHAT?: This study highlights the importance of green spaces for mental health in regional Australia, underscoring the need for context-specific planning and management to optimise health benefits. These findings may inform policies and interventions to enhance green space quality, accessibility and utilisation in regional contexts.

Indexed as

Environment DesignMental HealthParks, RecreationalAdultAgedExerciseFemaleFocus GroupsHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchQueenslandResidence Characteristicsgreen spacemental healthmental well‐beingregional arearural

Identifiers

PMID40639962
PMCPMC12245661

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.