Search Results (102)

The urban physical environment is composed of multiple elements that collectively influence the spatial pattern of crime. Existing research has predominantly focused on the relationship between individual types of facilities and crime, yet there remains a gap in comprehensively examining the integrated effects of the urban physical environment. This study, taking 87 police precincts in the central city of Changchun as units of analysis, innovatively constructs an integrated “Factor Analysis–Negative Binomial Regression” framework. First, factor analysis is applied to reduce the dimensionality of 14 categories of Points of Interest (POI) data, extracting three comprehensive factors that characterize the macro-level functional structure of the city: the “Business and Economic Activities Factor,” the “Residential, Educational, and Transportation Factor,” and the “Leisure and Entertainment Factor.” This approach effectively addresses the issue of multicollinearity among variables and uncovers the underlying macro-level functional factors. Subsequently, a negative binomial regression model is employed to analyze the impact of each factor on crime counts. The results indicate that: (1) The spatial distribution of urban crime is markedly heterogeneous and is systematically driven by the urban functional structure; (2) Both the “Business and Economic Activities Factor” and the “Leisure and Entertainment Factor” exhibit significant positive effects on crime, with each unit increase in their scores associated with an approximately 20% increase in the relative risk of crime; (3) The influence of the “Residential, Educational, and Transportation Factor” is not significant. Collectively, the findings demonstrate that shifting the perspective from “micro-level facilities” to “macro-level functional dimensions” can provide deeper insights into the fundamental formative mechanisms underlying the spatial pattern of crime. Full article

Recreational spaces in industrial parks are essential components of sustainable urban development, as they contribute to environmental quality, social well-being, and the transformation of production-oriented areas into livable urban environments. This study aims to develop a spatial attractiveness evaluation framework tailored to recreational spaces in industrial parks, to identify and compare the key factors influencing attractiveness across different recreational space types, and to reveal the functional complementarity and underlying mechanisms among these spaces. Taking Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) as a case study, a three-dimensional evaluation framework integrating spatial attributes, experiential perception, and place identity was constructed using GIS-based spatial analysis, questionnaire surveys, and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The spatial attractiveness of nature-dominated, mixed-type, and artificial-dominated recreational spaces was systematically evaluated and compared. The results show that experiential perception and place identity exert a stronger influence on spatial attractiveness than objective spatial attributes. Nature-dominated spaces primarily support ecological restoration and psychological recovery, mixed-type spaces facilitate diverse social and leisure activities, and artificial-dominated spaces are more suited to short-duration, high-frequency use, demonstrating clear functional complementarity. These findings highlight the necessity of type-specific strategies for enhancing recreational spaces in industrial parks and emphasize their role in supporting environmentally, socially, and functionally sustainable urban development. The proposed framework provides a transferable approach for evaluating and optimizing recreational spaces in other functionally mixed urban contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: Smartphone-based leisure reservation platforms increasingly shape how individuals participate in leisure, yet little is known about how such technology-mediated engagement influences users’ awareness of multidimensional health benefits. The purpose of this study is to investigate how regular users of smartphone-based leisure reservation platforms perceive multidimensional health benefits associated with their leisure activities. Methods: Based on a constructivist/interpretivist approach, this study applied Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Ten participants with at least one year of platform use completed semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed through iterative coding and theme development, with trustworthiness ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and triangulation. Results: Participants reported three dimensions of health awareness. (1) App-enabled accessibility as a catalyst for physical health awareness (i.e., physical health benefits) included improved vitality and increased motivation to maintain exercise routines. (2) App-based planning and anticipation in supporting mental well-being (i.e., mental health benefits) involved stress reduction, emotional recovery, enjoyment, and heightened self-care awareness. (3) Platform-mediated social encounters and the construction of social health (i.e., social health benefits) reflected expanded social networks, strengthened interpersonal relationships, and a greater sense of belonging fostered through shared leisure experiences. Conclusions: Smartphone-based leisure platforms play a meaningful role in enhancing users’ awareness of multidimensional health benefits. By improving accessibility, diversifying leisure options, and facilitating social interaction, these platforms support holistic well-being. The findings contribute to understanding technology-mediated leisure and offer practical implications for designing digital leisure services that promote physical, mental, and social health. Full article

Business diversity in proximity-based environments is emerging as an important requirement in urban planning, especially with the rise of concepts such as the 15-min city, which aim to enhance urban vitality. While many studies have focused on assessing vitality through the conditions defined by Jane Jacobs, few have specifically measured commercial diversity and analyzed its relationship with place popularity, attendance, and tourism activity. Using geo-localized data on businesses and Google Maps reviews in Paris, a diversity index was constructed based on Shannon entropy derived from business categories—Culture and leisure, Food and beverage, Retail stores, Local services—and explored its correlations through statistical analysis. The study reveals a higher level of commercial diversity in central areas compared to the outskirts, as indicated by spatial clustering analysis, along with a positive association between diversity and attendance. However, no significant relationship was observed between commercial diversity and the popularity of the selected establishments. These findings may inform policymakers and urban planners in designing more locally diversified cities and, more broadly, in promoting sustainable urban vitality. Full article

As tourism increasingly drives the revitalization of traditional villages, rural spaces are undergoing a transformation from functional living areas to spaces for cultural display and leisure. This shift has amplified the spatial usage discrepancies between multiple stakeholders, such as tourists and villagers, highlighting conflicts in spatial resource allocation and behavior path organization. Using Wulin Village, a typical example of a Minnan overseas Chinese village, as a case study, this paper introduces social network analysis to construct a “spatial–behavioral” dual network model. The model integrates both architectural and public spaces, alongside behavior path data from villagers and tourists, to analyze the spatial structure at three scales: village-level network completeness, district-level structural balance, and point-level node vulnerability. The study integrates two dimensions—architectural space and public space—along with behavioral path data from both villagers and tourists. It reveals the characteristics of spatial structure under the intervention of multiple behavioral agents from three scales: village-level network completeness, district-level structural balance, and point-level node vulnerability. The core research focus of the spatial network includes the network structure of architectural and public spaces, while the behavioral network concerns the activity paths and behavior patterns of tourists and villagers. The study finds that, at the village scale, Wulin Village’s spatial network demonstrates good connectivity and structural integrity, but the behavior paths of both tourists and villagers are highly concentrated in core areas, leading to underutilization of peripheral spaces. This creates an asymmetry characterized by “structural integrity—concentrated behavioral usage.” At the district scale, the spatial node distribution appears balanced, but tourist behavior paths are concentrated around cultural nodes, such as the ancestral hall, visitor center, and theater, while other areas remain inactive. At the point scale, both tourist and villager activities are highly dependent on a few high-degree, high-cluster nodes, improving local efficiency but exacerbating systemic vulnerability. Comparison with domestic and international studies on cultural settlements shows that tourism often leads to over-concentration of spatial paths and node overload, revealing significant discrepancies between spatial integration and behavioral usage. In response, this study proposes multi-scale spatial optimization strategies: enhancing accessibility and path redundancy in non-core areas at the village scale; guiding behavior distribution towards multifunctional nodes at the district scale; and strengthening the capacity and resilience of core nodes at the point scale. The results not only extend the application of behavioral network methods in spatial structure research but also provide theoretical insights and practical strategies for spatial governance and cultural continuity in tourism-driven cultural villages. Full article

Universities in severely cold regions face the dual challenge of adapting to seasonal climate variations while enhancing outdoor thermal comfort in outdoor leisure plazas. This study takes a university in Hohhot as a case study. Through field investigations conducted in summer and winter, thermal benchmarks were established. Based on this, an orthogonal experimental design was developed considering greenery layout, plant types, and surface albedo. ENVI-met was used to simulate and analyze the seasonal regulatory effects of landscape elements on the microclimate. The results show that: (1) the lower limit of the neutral PET range in Hohhot in winter is −11.3 °C, and the upper limit in summer is 31.3 °C; (2) the seasonal contribution of landscape elements to PET ranks as follows: plant types > greenery layout > surface albedo; and (3) the proposed optimization plan achieved a weighted increase of 6.0% in the proportion of activity area within the neutral PET range in both summer and winter. This study is the first to construct outdoor thermal sensation categories for both summer and winter in Hohhot and to establish a thermal comfort optimization evaluation mechanism that considers both diurnal and seasonal weightings. It systematically reveals the comprehensive regulatory effects of landscape elements on the thermal environment in severely cold regions and provides a nature-based solution for the climate-responsive design of campus plazas in such areas. Full article

Background: The integration of mining and urban spaces in coal-resource-based cities holds significant implications for urban transformation and sustainable development. However, existing research lacks an in-depth analysis of its characteristics and driving factors. Methods: This study takes the central urban area of Huaibei City as a case, utilizing historical documents, POI data, and spatial analysis methods to explore the evolution patterns and influencing factors of mining–urban spatial integration. Standard deviation ellipse analysis was employed to examine historical spatial changes, while a binary logistic regression model and principal component analysis were constructed based on 300 m × 300 m grid units to assess the roles of 11 factors, including location, transportation, commerce, and natural environment. Results: The results indicate that mining–urban spatial integration exhibits characteristics of lag, clustering, transportation dominance, and continuity. Commercial activity density, particularly leisure, dining, and shopping facilities, serves as a core driving factor. Road network density, along with the areas of educational and residential zones, positively promotes integration, whereas water surface areas (such as subsidence zones) significantly inhibit it. Among high-integration areas, Xiangshan District stands as the most economically prosperous city center; Lieshan–Yangzhuang mining area blends traditional and modern elements; and Zhuzhuang–Zhangzhuang mining area reflects the industrial landscape post-transformation. Conclusions: The study reveals diverse integration patterns under the synergistic effects of multiple factors, providing a scientific basis for optimizing spatial layouts and coordinating mining–urban development in coal-resource-based cities. Future research should continue to pay attention to the dynamic changes of spatial integration of mining cities, explore more effective integrated development models, and promote the rational and efficient use of urban space and the sustainable development of cities. Full article

Background: Assessment of physical competencies is one way to enhance uptake and maintain participation in a leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) for manual wheelchair (MWC) users. Weineck’s model explains physical competencies through eight physical qualities. The use of this model may influence MWC users’ motivation for participation in LTPA. The aim of this study was to identify and categorize existing assessment tools designed for MWC users of physical qualities (strength, speed, power, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, balance, and flexibility). Methods: A mapping review was conducted following the “Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA)” guidelines. Two reviewers selected articles that documented assessment tools for the physical qualities of MWC users. Tools were extracted from each article to categorize them in a list. Results: A total of 149 articles that contained assessments of physical qualities were included in the review. A total of 97 assessment tools were extracted and categorized according to the eight physical qualities. Conclusions: These assessments are categorized into physical qualities that would facilitate the creation of test batteries aimed at assessing physical qualities in MWC users. This study is the first step in the construction of a test battery to assess the physical qualities of MWC users. Full article

Rural landscape character assessment (LCA) is significant for identifying and understanding rural landscapes and maintaining the cultural connotations of the rural vernacular. Taking the rural area of Songzi City as an example, this study identifies the landscape character (LC) and analyzes the coupling between the current state of its LC and a construction project based on the depth of rural landscape planning in the county and combining the ecology, arable land, and water body protection boundary as constraints. Thus, we obtain the “point, line, and surface” site selection suggestions for the construction activities of leisure agriculture, power grid, and energy facilities, and the zoning classification and layout control strategies for LC are subsequently proposed. The results show the following: (1) The county LC factor is a combination of natural and human factors used to obtain 165 LC areas in Songzi City. (2) The current state of rural LC is used to determine LCs from shallow to deep and to provide the basis for index selection and judgment for evaluation. (3) The coupling relationship between rural LC and construction projects varies and must be judged using subjective and objective methods, desktop research combined with field analyses, and multi-stakeholder participation. Based on the perspective of coupling and coordinating human and landscape, this study applies local-scale LCA to practice, strengthens the interface with rural construction planning, and provides research ideas and methodological references for the sustainable control of rural LC. Full article

At present, China is facing a serious aging problem. Although community daycare centers have been built, they generally have problems such as inadequate facilities, single-service provision, and insufficient environmental design. These problems make it impossible to meet the multifaceted needs of the elderly in their old age, enhance their sense of wellbeing, and achieve sustainable development. Therefore, relevant policies indicate that the elderly service model of community day care centers should be actively constructed and upgraded. However, most of the existing research focuses on service models or single-design practice studies, and there are relatively few studies that address the integration of restorative environmental design and sustainability. Therefore, this paper systematically explores the current research status of restorative environmental design in daycare centers for the elderly through macro quantitative bibliometric analysis and micro qualitative content analysis based on Web of Science (WOS) data, then proposes design practice strategies, implementation paths, and evaluation methods to enhance wellbeing. Through keyword network visualization analysis, this paper identifies eight main clusters: physical literacy, public preschool services, social support, elderly day care centers, hospice use, designing leisure products, risk factors, and communicative skills. The high-frequency keywords “health”, “elderly”, “cultural diversity”, “children”, and “quality of life” are further categorized into “caregiving”, “Alzheimer’s disease”, “adult day care”, and “daycare centers”, with the latter split into three further categories: design strategy, implementation approach, and evaluation. In addition, this paper combines SDG3 goals such as reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases, achieving universal health coverage, etc., in order to explore the potential of resilience-based environmental design to promote the sustainable development of elderly daycare centers. This study not only complements the research related to restorative environmental design in daycare centers for the elderly but also provides specific guidelines and references for future environmental design, policy planning, and elderly service practices. Full article

In the context of high turnover rates in the construction industry, team leisure sports activities have been increasingly promoted, with growing attention on their potential impact on the sustainability of construction workers’ occupational commitment. However, there is a lack of systematic research on the mechanism through which team sports promote occupational commitment. This study explores how team leisure sports activities enhance the sustainability of construction workers’ occupational commitment through the mediating effect of team cohesion, integrating perspectives from social psychology and organizational behavior. Data were collected from 509 Chinese construction workers using a structured questionnaire. The results revealed the following: (1) Four dimensions of team sports experience—social interaction quality, emotional engagement, team culture perception, and work pressure relief—positively affected workers’ commitment to sustainability. (2) Team cohesion mediated the relationship between the team sports experience and sustainability. This study provides insights into career sustainability in the construction industry and highlights the importance of team cohesion in enhancing workers’ professional commitment. The findings offer practical implications for optimizing team-building and human resource management strategies, with a focus on retaining employees in the construction industry. Full article

Leisure activities positively impact community development including benefits related to enhancing physical health, improving mental health, developing social skills, encouraging creativity, and enhancing quality of life. However, the relationship between leisure activities’ benefits and residents’ motivation to participate in community building remains little explored. To fill the gap, this study constructed structural equation modeling including positive environment changes, residents’ participation, leisure activities, and improving quality of life. The results found three key implications of positive environmental changes in boosting the intention of community participation, including the following: (1) positive environment changes including making more green space, enhancing the aesthetics of community layout, and building more open spaces significantly boost recreational activity demand; (2) leisure activities and their multifaceted impacts lead to improved quality of life contributing to the residents’ intention of community development; (3) the intention of community development participation is strongly influenced by perceptions of the positive changes in physical landscapes and by the mediating role of leisure activities and benefits of the quality of life. The findings provide insight and perspective for policymakers and planners toward sustainable living environments. Additionally, they emphasize the critical role of diverse, accessible recreational opportunities in enhancing the overall quality of life in dynamic residential contexts. Full article

This research aims to determine the behavioral intention of residents to engage in recreational and leisure activities typical of dark tourism, which will enable tourism stakeholders to establish more effective measures and strategies to promote and develop dark tourism worldwide. First, a literature review of the scientific research on dark tourism follows, based on the papers in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Second, this empirical study uses structural equation models (SEMs) and, more concretely, partial least square (PLS) to validate the proposed model, which evaluates residents’ perceptions and motivations towards performing leisure activities linked to dark tourism. The results show that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control have a significant relationship with the intention to visit a dark tourism destination, with attitudes explaining 45.66% of residents’ intention towards this type of tourism. In terms of practical implications, the findings of this study highlight that community participation is a critical factor in the relationship between dark tourism and residents. In terms of practical implications, the findings of this study highlight that community participation is a critical factor in the relationship between dark tourism and residents because of its role in shaping the constructs that determine an individual’s behavioral intentions. Finally, it is imperative to involve local communities in tourism planning and the decision-making processes to develop a more sustainable approach to tourism that respects local sentiments and cultural contexts. Full article

In his Middle Commentary on Posterior Analytics, the great Aristotelian Commentator Ibn Rushd defines “knowledge” (scientific knowledge, epistemē, ‘ilm) as one of Aristotle’s five intellectual virtues and the faculty of reason, akin to the other virtues, in an Aristotelian way. Ibn Rushd defends the teleological argument, rooted in Aristotle’s teleological reading of nature, and supports the modal strong epistemic status of this argument, which is part of the concept of knowledge, in his early work (Short Commentary on Metaphysics), middle period work (al-Kashf) and late work (Long Commentary on Metaphysics), all in harmony with each other. Ibn Rushd, constructing the teleological argument based on the definition of knowledge, which fundamentally articulates the necessary or essential qualities inherent in objects in defense of de re modality, takes a step that seems quite radical within the context of the Aristotelian epistemic tradition to which he is affiliated: The teleological argument, strongly associated with the concept of knowledge—one of the five intellectual virtues—is presented as a form of deductive inference accessible not only to philosophers but also to ordinary public. In other words, according to him, the argument is both a philosophical and a religious way. This implies, for instance, that natural theology, typically viewed by Aquinas as an activity reserved for the higher epistemic class with talent and leisure, is seen by Ibn Rushd as a robust epistemic activity accessible to ordinary people. This new element, which can be referred to as common sense natural theology, contends that ordinary public knowledge and philosophers’ knowledge differ in details, such as whether it is a simple or complex deductive inference, while remaining the same in terms of their knowledge status. Full article

Intellect is an important personality trait, especially with regard to the prediction and explanation of intellectual performance, such as occupational or academic success. However, much less is known about the development of Intellect. I present results from a longitudinal study spanning eight years to investigate changes in Intellect during a critical period: the transition from school to vocation. The study is based on a large and heterogeneous sample with up to 1964 participants. Using a facet approach, I investigate predictors of longitudinal trajectories theoretically derived from construct definition, including subjective and objective attributes of education and profession; attitudes regarding the malleability of personality traits; as well as personality traits beyond Intellect, especially intelligence. Results reveal some support for the social investment principle according to neo-socioanalytic theory, as epistemic job demands and epistemic leisure activities predicted the increase in Intellect over time. The study contributes to our understanding of the development of personality traits related to intellectual achievement, including important internal and external predictors of longitudinal trajectories. Full article