Urban green space and physical activity: findings from a population-based survey in Germany
Abstract
Background: As modern lifestyles are mostly sedentary, physical activity (PA) is a vital factor in preventing health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or obesity. Green spaces can be an important resource for urban residents’ PA, although it often remains unclear which green space measures are most relevant.
Methods: A representative cross-sectional survey of German urban inhabitants was conducted. Subjective green space quantity and quality as well as weekly use of green spaces were assessed. PA was measured via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and categorized into low, moderate and high PA. The association between green space measures and PA categories was investigated via ordinal regression models. Individual demographics, socioeconomic status (SES) and availability of private green were included as covariates.
Results: In total, survey data from 4,979 German urban inhabitants were analyzed (48.4% female). Greater availability of green spaces close to participants’ homes was statistically significantly associated with higher PA levels (OR: 1.06 (95% CI: 1.02; 1.09); p < 0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant association between more weekly time spent in green spaces and higher PA levels was identified (OR: 1.09 (95% CI: 1.07; 1.10); p < 0.001). No association was found regarding subjective urban green quality and PA levels. Furthermore, a higher SES was statistically significantly associated with PA (OR: 1.7 (95% CI: 1.43; 2.03); p < 0.001 for high SES compared to low SES).
Conclusions: The results of this investigation underline the complex association of urban green spaces and PA. Greater availability of green spaces seems to be a potential facilitator of urban inhabitants’ PA. Green space use can be an important way of being physically active and green spaces should be designed accordingly. To reveal the association between green space qualities and PA, more focus on specific qualities might be needed.
Key messages: • Available and useable green spaces close to urban resident’s homes are important factors to enable physical activity.
• Urban Green spaces need to be designed with physical activity aspects in mind and considering residents’ requirements.
Related
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- Joint association of LDL cholesterol and inflammation with mortality and the modifying effect of physical activity: findings from two population-based cohort studies.
- Germany’s youth city versus rural dwellers engage in more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity
- Perceived physical literacy, sports team participation, and regular physical activity among university students: a national survey study
- Association Between Aerobic Physical Activity and Hypertension Among U.S. Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) 2021-2023
BibTeX
@article{freymuller2026urban,
title = {{Urban green space and physical activity: findings from a population-based survey in Germany}},
author = {J Freymüller and HL Schmid and S Lopez Lumbi and M Liebig-Gonglach and C Ziedek and A Hoyer and J Hirschfeld and T Karzai and T Möllney and C Hornberg},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1287},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1287},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Urban green space and physical activity: findings from a population-based survey in Germany
AU - J Freymüller
AU - HL Schmid
AU - S Lopez Lumbi
AU - M Liebig-Gonglach
AU - C Ziedek
AU - A Hoyer
AU - J Hirschfeld
AU - T Karzai
AU - T Möllney
AU - C Hornberg
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1287
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1287
AB - Background: As modern lifestyles are mostly sedentary, physical activity (PA) is a vital factor in preventing health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes or obesity. Green spaces can be an important resource for urban residents’ PA, although it often remains unclear which green space measures are most relevant. Methods: A representative cross-sectional survey of German urban inhabitants was conducted. Subjective green space quantity and quality as well as weekly use of green spaces were assessed. PA was measured via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and categorized into low, moderate and high PA. The association between green space measures and PA categories was investigated via ordinal regression models. Individual demographics, socioeconomic status (SES) and availability of private green were included as covariates. Results: In total, survey data from 4,979 German urban inhabitants were analyzed (48.4% female). Greater availability of green spaces close to participants’ homes was statistically significantly associated with higher PA levels (OR: 1.06 (95% CI: 1.02; 1.09); p < 0.001). Additionally, a statistically significant association between more weekly time spent in green spaces and higher PA levels was identified (OR: 1.09 (95% CI: 1.07; 1.10); p < 0.001). No association was found regarding subjective urban green quality and PA levels. Furthermore, a higher SES was statistically significantly associated with PA (OR: 1.7 (95% CI: 1.43; 2.03); p < 0.001 for high SES compared to low SES). Conclusions: The results of this investigation underline the complex association of urban green spaces and PA. Greater availability of green spaces seems to be a potential facilitator of urban inhabitants’ PA. Green space use can be an important way of being physically active and green spaces should be designed accordingly. To reveal the association between green space qualities and PA, more focus on specific qualities might be needed. Key messages: • Available and useable green spaces close to urban resident’s homes are important factors to enable physical activity. • Urban Green spaces need to be designed with physical activity aspects in mind and considering residents’ requirements.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -