The mediating role of activity attachment in the relationship between gardening frequency, leisure orientation, and mental wellbeing: evidence from resident gardeners with implications for future gardening tourism.

Background: As modern urbanization, digitalization, and technological progress increasingly separate people from their natural environment, engaging with nature to improve residents' wellbeing is becoming an increasingly challenging task. Purpose: By applying the most accessible therapeutic effect of gardening, our study aims to explore how the frequency of gardening activities and leisure orientation contribute to attachment to the activity. In turn, attachment to an activity increases mental wellbeing and reduces stress levels. Our case study was conducted in the developing urban area of Shymkent in Kazakhstan. Methods: Using snowball sampling, we surveyed 210 urban residents, of whom 135 were gardeners and 75 were non-gardeners. The survey measured gardening frequency, leisure orientation, activity attachment, mental wellbeing and perceived stress. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Results: The results show that Frequent gardening ( Conclusion: Participants who garden report higher mental health and lower stress levels, especially when gardening frequently with leisure motivation and a sense of attachment. To create healthier cities, public health and urban planning initiatives should promote access to leisure gardening activities and develop future green gardening tourism initiatives.