From nature experience to visitors’ pro-environmental behavior: the role of perceived restorativeness and well-being

Abstract

This research presents two studies covering two interconnected and sequential research questions in the context of a developing country (China): (1) What psychological responses do different types of environmental experiences elicit in visitors and (2) how are the psychological responses and following behavioral responses elicited by natural experiences? The research posits that the feelings of well-being and pro-environmental behavior (PEB) are elicited through the mechanism of perceived restorativeness. Study 1 (a scenario experiment) suggests that national parks produce higher subjective vitality but similar perceived restorative outcomes compared to city parks. Study 2 (a survey) presents a theoretical model examining the relationships among perceived restorativeness, general subjective well-being (SWB), trip-specific SWB, and PEB in a peri-urban national forest park context. The results indicate that perceived restorativeness is an important factor influencing visitors’ well-being and PEB, though the association between SWB and PEB was nonsignificant. Our studies provide cross-cultural confirmation of the restorative effects of the natural environment. They also provide evidence that nature-based tourism could be a valid nature-based solution for improving the health and well-being of both humans and the earth, through the role of perceived restorativeness of nature.