Role of therapeutic landscapes and emotional experiences in the relationship between water-based recreational experiences, well-being, and environmental behaviors

Abstract

Water areas (WA) can potentially promote well-being (WB), but there exists a paucity of research on the positive effects and role of water-based recreational experiences (WBRE). In an attempt to fill the gap in the literature, this study proposes a model to determine how WBRE can affect WB. Thus, this study investigates the role of therapeutic landscapes (TL) and emotional experiences (EE) in the relationship between WBRE, WB, and environmental behaviors (EB). Data are obtained from a total of 491 participants who previously had WBRE through the questionnaire method. This study finds that the variables had significant and positive relationships with each other. More specifically, it reveals a moderating role of TL in the relationship between WBRE and EE; a mediating role of EE in the relationship between WBRE and WB. The model analysis yields that EE have no effect on EB, and also that EE are not a mediating variable in the relationship between WBRE and EB.