The psychological restorative effects of green exercise
A moderated mediation model of nature relatedness and exercise behavior
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22220710 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Tzu-Chun Huang (0009-0004-0454-6200, National Taiwan Normal University), Ching Li (0000-0003-3472-0543, National Taiwan Normal University), Ming-Wei Huang (National Taiwan Normal University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Pages | 1887724-1887724 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-09 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2624-9367 • E-ISSN: 2624-9367 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fspor.2026.1887724 |
| PMID | 42494710 |
| OpenAlex | W7167832841 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 31 |
Green exercise yields synergistic physical and mental health benefits; however, the psychological transformative mechanisms underlying these effects warrant further investigation. Grounded in Conditioned Restoration Theory (CRT), the main purpose of this study was to construct and validate a theoretical model of the psychological restoration pathways within green exercise contexts. Using a stratified sampling method, data were collected from 1,098 participants in Taiwan and analyzed via Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that Perceived Naturalness (PN) significantly enhanced Perceived Environmental Restorativeness (PER) both directly and indirectly through Nature Relatedness (NR). Furthermore, exercise behavior significantly and negatively moderated the direct pathway from PN to PER. This attenuating interaction effect suggests that vigorous or prolonged physical exertion may induce cognitive resource competition, thereby diminishing the restorative benefits derived from the natural environment. These findings not only broaden the theoretical framework for understanding the psychological restoration mechanisms of green exercise but also offer critical practical implications for public health and urban planning
Conceptual model · Construct (python library) · Health psychology · Mediation · Mental health · Moderated mediation · Psychological Theory · Structural equation modeling · Theory of planned behavior · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Flow Experience in Various Fields · Urban Green Space and Health
Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R
What is the Best Dose of Nature and Green Exercise for Improving Mental Health? A Multi-Study Analysis
The NR-6
Aesthetic and Affective Response to Natural Environment
Effect Size and Power in Assessing Moderating Effects of Categorical Variables Using Multiple Regression
When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM
PLS-SEM or CB-SEM
Common Method Bias in PLS-SEM
A Randomized Crossover Trial on Acute Stress-Related Physiological Responses to Mountain Hiking
Affective Outcomes of Group versus Lone Green Exercise Participation
Does the Mode of Exercise Influence the Benefits Obtained by Green Exercise
Changes in Psychological and Cognitive Outcomes after Green versus Suburban Walking
Proposing a Framework for the Restorative Effects of Nature through Conditioning
Empirical Examinations of Effects of Three-Level Green Exercise on Engagement with Nature and Physical Activity
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |