AUTHOR=Feng Kai , Wang Shengnan , Dan JoonChew , Yang Hao , Li Yongxin , Yu Xiaosheng 
  
TITLE=How Intrinsic Motivation for Urban Park Visits Is Associated With Residents’ Somatic Health: Roles of Place Satisfaction and Personality Traits
  
JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health
  
VOLUME=Volume 71 - 2026
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2026.1608985
  
DOI=10.3389/ijph.2026.1608985
  
ISSN=1661-8564
  
ABSTRACT=ObjectivesRapid urbanization poses significant public health challenges, and urban parks are increasingly recognized for physical and mental health benefits. However, the psychological mechanisms linking urban park visits to health outcomes remain underexplored, particularly the role of intrinsic motivation and individual differences.MethodsDrawing on Self-Determination Theory and personality psychology, a cross-sectional survey of 1,191 park visitors in central China employed validated tools (IMI, PHQ-15, PAS, BFI-2). Moderated mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS and the PROCESS macro.ResultsIntrinsic motivation showed a strong direct association with residents’ somatic health. Place satisfaction partially mediated this relationship, though the indirect effect was modest compared to the direct pathway. Personality traits significantly moderated key pathways: Extraversion weakened the link between intrinsic motivation and place satisfaction, while agreeableness attenuated the somatic health benefits associated with place satisfaction.ConclusionPsychological factors play a crucial role in shaping the association between urban park engagement and somatic health outcomes. These findings suggest that urban park planning should go beyond accessibility and consider motivational and personality-based differences to maximize somatic health benefits. Designing urban parks that foster intrinsic motivation and accommodate diverse personality types may contribute to more effective and equitable public health outcomes.