{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T06:07:05Z","timestamp":1789020425147,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788998400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Natural environments may support physical activity not only by providing opportunities for movement but also by shaping psychological appraisals of safety and restoration. Guided by prospect-refuge theory, this study distinguished prospect, threat-related refuge, and protective refuge.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We examined whether perceived safety and perceived environmental restorativeness statistically mediated the associations between these perceived features and physical activity intention.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A image-based randomized online survey experiment was conducted among 1,439 young adults. Participants were randomly assigned to evaluate one synthetic but realistic natural-landscape image and then completed measures of the three perceived features, perceived safety, the 11-item Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS-11), and physical activity intention. Spearman correlations and structural equation modeling with 10,000 bias-corrected bootstrap samples were used, adjusting for age, biological sex, household registration, educational level, and monthly family income.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Prospect and protective refuge were positively associated with physical activity intention, whereas threat-related refuge was negatively associated. The final model showed acceptable fit under commonly used lenient criteria (SRMR = 0.018, TLI = 0.900, CFI = 0.995, RMSEA = 0.064, 90% CI = 0.040 to 0.091). All nine specific indirect associations were statistically significant. For each environmental feature, the pathway through perceived safety alone was the largest specific indirect component in absolute magnitude (prospect: \u03b2 = 0.151; threat-related refuge: \u03b2 = \u22120.096; protective refuge: \u03b2 = 0.129); the PRS-11-only and serial pathways were smaller. The direct paths to physical activity intention were not statistically significant after the mediators were included, a pattern consistent with indirect-only statistical mediation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Perceived safety and perceived environmental restorativeness may help explain why prospect, low threat-related concealment, and protective refuge are associated with stronger physical activity intention. Because the mediators and outcome were measured at the same time point, these findings do not establish temporal or causal mediation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1892515","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T05:33:01Z","timestamp":1789018381000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Associations between perceived natural environmental features and physical activity intention: the mediating roles of perceived safety and perceived environmental restorativeness"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Wenzhi","family":"Yan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Education, Central China Normal University","place":["Wuhan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Haiying","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Hebei Sport University","place":["Shijiazhuang, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mingnan","family":"Zhuang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sports and Exercise Science, Hebei Sport University","place":["Shijiazhuang, China"]},{"name":"College of Sports Training, Tianjin University of Sport","place":["Tianjin, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hanglin","family":"Yu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Physical Education, Southwest University","place":["Chongqing, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jinyan","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Sports Training, Chengdu Sport University","place":["Chengdu, Sichuan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yunfei","family":"Tao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Sports Training, Chengdu Sport University","place":["Chengdu, Sichuan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hansen","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Education, Sichuan Agricultural University","place":["Ya'an, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-publhealth-032013-182443","article-title":"Nature and health","volume":"35","author":"Hartig","year":"2014","journal-title":"Annu Rev Public Health."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2017.06.028","article-title":"Exploring pathways linking greenspace to health: theoretical and methodological guidance","volume":"158","author":"Markevych","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ Res."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"628","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2018.06.030","article-title":"The health benefits of the great outdoors: a systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes","volume":"166","author":"Twohig-Bennett","year":"2018","journal-title":"Environ Res."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"712","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2010.03.003","article-title":"Characteristics of urban parks associated with park use and physical activity: a review of qualitative research","volume":"16","author":"McCormack","year":"2010","journal-title":"Health Place."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2017.03.011","article-title":"Perception of safety is a prerequisite for the association between neighbourhood green qualities and physical activity: results from a cross-sectional study in Sweden","volume":"45","author":"Weimann","year":"2017","journal-title":"Health Place."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"971","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2009.03.002","article-title":"Restorative qualities of indoor and outdoor exercise settings as predictors of exercise frequency","volume":"15","author":"Hug","year":"2009","journal-title":"Health Place."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1653065","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1653065","article-title":"The mediating role of environmental restorativeness between vegetation levels and physical activity intention: a photo-based experimental study","volume":"13","author":"Weng","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Public Health."},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2006.07.007","article-title":"The need for psychological restoration as a determinant of environmental preferences","volume":"26","author":"Hartig","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Environ Psychol."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.3368\/lj.3.2.91","article-title":"Prospects and refuges re-visited","volume":"3","author":"Appleton","year":"1984","journal-title":"Landsc J."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1186\/s40410-016-0033-1","article-title":"Evidence for prospect-refuge theory: a meta-analysis of the findings of environmental preference research","volume":"3","author":"Dosen","year":"2016","journal-title":"City Territ Archit."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.1016\/S0272-4944(05)80254-3","article-title":"Perceived safety from crime in the urban environment","volume":"13","author":"Loewen","year":"1993","journal-title":"J Environ Psychol."},{"key":"B12","first-page":"1223","article-title":"Prospect and refuge as the predictors of preferences for seating areas","volume":"5","author":"Mumcu","year":"2010","journal-title":"Sci Res Essays."},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1177\/0013916592241002","article-title":"Fear of crime in relation to three exterior site features: prospect, refuge, and escape","volume":"24","author":"Fisher","year":"1992","journal-title":"Environ Behav."},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"387","DOI":"10.1177\/0013916508315351","article-title":"Perceived danger and judged likelihood of restoration","volume":"41","author":"Herzog","year":"2009","journal-title":"Environ Behav."},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2018.01.001","article-title":"Exploring perceived restoration potential of urban green enclosure through immersive virtual environments","volume":"55","author":"Tabrizian","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Environ Psychol."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2037","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-025-56870-2","article-title":"Nature exposure induces analgesic effects by acting on nociception-related neural processing","volume":"16","author":"Steininger","year":"2025","journal-title":"Nat Commun."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ufug.2019.03.005","article-title":"Characteristics of urban green spaces in relation to aesthetic preference and stress recovery","volume":"41","author":"Wang","year":"2019","journal-title":"Urban For Urban Green."},{"key":"B18","first-page":"214","article-title":"Insufficient effort responding in experimental philosophy","volume-title":"Oxford Studies in Experimental Philosophy Volume 4.","author":"P\u00f6lzler","year":"2022"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159292","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.159292","article-title":"Beyond \u201cbluespace\u201d and \u201cgreenspace\u201d: a narrative review of possible health benefits from exposure to other natural landscapes","volume":"856","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci Total Environ."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0342434","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0342434","article-title":"Beyond traditional stimuli: Validating AI-generated images for eliciting negative emotions in affect research","volume":"21","author":"Chiu","year":"2026","journal-title":"PLoS ONE."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102920","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2026.102920","article-title":"Beyond nature: Investigating the restorative properties of environments through the comparison of historical, modern urban, and natural image exposures","volume":"110","author":"Miola","year":"2026","journal-title":"J Environ Psychol."},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2450","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2018.02450","article-title":"From broken windows to perceived routine activities: examining impacts of environmental interventions on perceived safety of urban alleys","volume":"9","author":"Jiang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front Psychol."},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2145","DOI":"10.1007\/s11116-024-10487-4","article-title":"Exploring the effect of perceived safety in first\/last mile mode choices","volume":"52","author":"Tzouras","year":"2025","journal-title":"Transportation."},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"293","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sbspro.2014.12.375","article-title":"How to measure the restorative quality of environments: the PRS-11","volume":"159","author":"Pasini","year":"2014","journal-title":"Procedia Soc Behav Sci."},{"key":"B25","first-page":"1883","article-title":"Revision of the Chinese version of the perceived restorative scale (PRS-11) [in Chinese]","volume":"32","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"China J Health Psychol."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1509\/jmkr.44.2.175","article-title":"The predictive validity of multiple-item versus single-item measures of the same constructs","volume":"44","author":"Bergkvist","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Mark Res."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2288-12-159","article-title":"Should researchers use single indicators, best indicators, or multiple indicators in structural equation models?","volume":"12","author":"Hayduk","year":"2012","journal-title":"BMC Med Res Methodol."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cedpsych.2014.04.002","article-title":"\u201cMy Questionnaire is Too Long!\u201d The assessments of motivational-affective constructs with three-item and single-item measures","volume":"39","author":"Gogol","year":"2014","journal-title":"Contemp Educ Psychol."},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1211","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina58091211","article-title":"L\u00f3pez-de-Celis C, Llurda-Almuzara L, Rodr\u00edguez-Rubio PR, et al. Correlation between physical performance and stabilometric parameters in older adults","volume":"58","author":"Labata-Lezaun","year":"2022","journal-title":"Medicina."},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1763","DOI":"10.1213\/ANE.0000000000002864","article-title":"Correlation coefficients: appropriate use and interpretation","volume":"126","author":"Schober","year":"2018","journal-title":"Anesth Analg."},{"key":"B31","volume-title":"Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research","author":"Brown","year":"2015"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1918","DOI":"10.1177\/0956797613480187","article-title":"The relative trustworthiness of inferential tests of the indirect effect in statistical mediation analysis: does method really matter?","volume":"24","author":"Hayes","year":"2013","journal-title":"Psychol Sci."},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1177\/0049124187016001004","article-title":"Practical issues in structural modeling","volume":"16","author":"Bentler","year":"1987","journal-title":"Sociol Methods Res."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"424","DOI":"10.1037\/\/1082-989X.3.4.424","article-title":"Fit indices in covariance structure modeling: sensitivity to underparameterized model misspecification","volume":"3","author":"Hu","year":"1998","journal-title":"Psychol Methods."},{"key":"B35","first-page":"23","article-title":"Evaluating the fit of structural equation models: tests of significance and descriptive goodness-of-fit measures","volume":"8","author":"Schermelleh-Engel","year":"2003","journal-title":"Methods Psychol Res Online."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"673","DOI":"10.1007\/s11135-006-9018-6","article-title":"A caution regarding rules of thumb for variance inflation factors","volume":"41","author":"O'Brien","year":"2007","journal-title":"Qual Quant."},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.12691\/ajams-8-2-1","article-title":"Detecting multicollinearity in regression analysis","volume":"8","author":"Shrestha","year":"2020","journal-title":"Am J Appl Math Stat."},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"879","DOI":"10.1037\/0021-9010.88.5.879","article-title":"Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies","volume":"88","author":"Podsakoff","year":"2003","journal-title":"J Appl Psychol."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1207\/S15328007SEM0902_5","article-title":"Evaluating goodness-of-fit indexes for testing measurement invariance","volume":"9","author":"Cheung","year":"2002","journal-title":"Struct Equ Modeling."},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3363","DOI":"10.1007\/s10826-015-0138-2","article-title":"Bullying and victimization, depressive mood, and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: the moderating role of parental support","volume":"24","author":"Claes","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Child Fam Stud."},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11136-010-9606-8","article-title":"COSMIN study design checklist for patient-reported outcome measurement instruments","author":"Mokkink","year":"2019","journal-title":"Amsterdam: COSMIN."},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1016\/0272-4944(95)90001-2","article-title":"The restorative benefits of nature: toward an integrative framework","volume":"15","author":"Kaplan","year":"1995","journal-title":"J Environ Psychol."},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ufug.2013.08.005","article-title":"Effect of predictors of visual preference as characteristics of urban natural landscapes in increasing perceived restorative potential","volume":"13","author":"Pazhouhanfar","year":"2014","journal-title":"Urban For Urban Green."},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"397","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ufug.2016.10.011","article-title":"Why viewing nature is more fascinating and restorative than viewing buildings: a closer look at perceived complexity","volume":"20","author":"Van den Berg","year":"2016","journal-title":"Urban For Urban Green."},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"584","DOI":"10.1038\/s41467-020-14303-2","article-title":"A system wide approach to managing zoo collections for visitor attendance and in situ conservation","volume":"11","author":"Mooney","year":"2020","journal-title":"Nat Commun."},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16028","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-017-16295-4","article-title":"The first 1000 days of life factors associated with childhood asthma symptoms: BRISA cohort, Brazil","volume":"7","author":"Nascimento","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci Rep."},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13906","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-39998-3","article-title":"The pro-environmental behavioral intention of villagers in rural tourist destinations under China's environmental remediation policy","volume":"13","author":"Tang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci Rep."},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"620","DOI":"10.1177\/0013916505275306","article-title":"Pathway curvature and border visibility as predictors of preference and danger in forest settings","volume":"37","author":"Herzog","year":"2005","journal-title":"Environ Behav."},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1293","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19031293","article-title":"Tourists' safety perception clues in the urban forest environment: visual quality, facility completeness, accessibility\u2014a case study of urban forests in Fuzhou, China","volume":"19","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health."},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"644763","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.644763","article-title":"Influence of perceived environmental quality on the perceived restorativeness of public spaces","volume":"12","author":"R\u00edos-Rodr\u00edguez","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Psychol."},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1670171","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1670171","article-title":"How perceived environmental quality influences physical activity in urban green spaces? A moderated mediation model","volume":"13","author":"Zhang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Public Health."},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1368","DOI":"10.1057\/s41599-025-05666-2","article-title":"The association between reported artificial light and reported physical activity at night: the mediating roles of environmental restorativeness and perceived safety","volume":"12","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Humanit Soc Sci Commun."},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"85","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvp.2018.08.014","article-title":"Restoration, well-being, and everyday physical activity in indoor, built outdoor and natural outdoor settings","volume":"59","author":"Pasanen","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Environ Psychol."},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102883","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psychsport.2025.102883","article-title":"Evaluating the benefits of green exercise: a randomized controlled trial in natural and built environments assessed for their restorative properties","volume":"80","author":"Laezza","year":"2025","journal-title":"Psychol Sport Exerc."},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"50","DOI":"10.1093\/heapro\/day103","article-title":"Blue care: a systematic review of blue space interventions for health and wellbeing","volume":"35","author":"Britton","year":"2020","journal-title":"Health Promot Int."},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2017.05.005","article-title":"How do type and size of natural environments relate to physical activity behavior?","volume":"46","author":"Jansen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Health Place."},{"key":"B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"434","DOI":"10.1007\/s11747-011-0300-3","article-title":"Guidelines for choosing between multi-item and single-item scales for construct measurement: a predictive validity perspective","volume":"40","author":"Diamantopoulos","year":"2012","journal-title":"J Acad Mark Sci."},{"key":"B58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1037\/met0000263","article-title":"The measurement of the mediator and its influence on statistical mediation conclusions","volume":"26","author":"Gonzalez","year":"2021","journal-title":"Psychol Methods."},{"key":"B59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1037\/1082-989X.12.1.23","article-title":"Bias in cross-sectional analyses of longitudinal mediation","volume":"12","author":"Maxwell","year":"2007","journal-title":"Psychol Methods."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1892515\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]],"date-time":"2026-09-10T05:33:03Z","timestamp":1789018383000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1892515\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]]},"references-count":59,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1892515"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1892515","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,10]]},"article-number":"1892515"}}