‘A little escape dome’: Exploring how older adolescents experience urban parks as sites of mental wellbeing in Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Prior research supports the role of biopsychosocial pathways like restoration, physical activity and social cohesion in mediating the relationship between urban greenspace and positive mental wellbeing in adults. The evidence for the validity of these and other pathways in adolescent populations is less robust.This paper examines how urban parks can contribute to adolescent mental wellbeing. The author conducted in-depth interviews and participatory workshops with older adolescents living in Melbourne, Australia to explore how they construct their experience in urban parks and how their experiences impact their psychological and emotional wellbeing.The findings show that urban parks can have salutogenic (health-giving) effects for this cohort. The results provide support for the role of functional, biopsychosocial pathways similar to those known to operate for adults in mediating positive mental wellbeing. At the same time, this research emphasises the significance of older adolescents’ age-specific developmental needs in shaping their experience of, and wellbeing outcomes from, urban parks and green spaces. This paper concludes with a conceptual framework that seeks to guide future research by integrating the restorative and socio-spatial characteristics of urban parks and green space, which emphasises the complex and interconnected nature of pathways to mental wellbeing in older adolescents.