Abstract
Spending time in greenspace is widely recognized as beneficial for the mood of preadolescent children. However, the day-to-day associations between greenspace exposure (the amount of time spent) and mood remain unclear, particularly regarding the moderating role of greenspace attributes. This study examines the day-to-day associations between greenspace exposure and preadolescent children’s mood (including happiness, anxiety, and depression) and explores how greenspace attributes (including environmental quality and safety) moderate these associations using a daily diary approach. Data were collected from 508 preadolescent children (234 boys; M
age = 10.52 years, SD = 1.17), who completed a 14-day diary on their greenspace exposure and mood. The results revealed that on days when children spent more time in greenspace, they reported greater happiness on the same day, but not the following day. Although no direct associations were found between time spent in greenspace and anxiety or depression either on the same day or the next day, environmental quality moderated same-day associations among urban children, but not rural children. Specifically, urban children exposed to higher quality greenspace reported fewer anxiety and depression symptoms with increased exposure, while for those exposed to lower quality greenspace, more time spent in greenspace was associated with greater anxiety and depression. These findings underscore the importance of daily greenspace exposure for enhancing preadolescent children’s happiness and emphasize the need for higher quality greenspace to alleviate anxiety and depression.