Impact of tourists’ environmental preferences and place attachment on their perceived health benefits at Langya Mountain

[Objective] The health benefits of urban scenic areas for residents are one of the essential reasons for scenic area construction. Environmental preference and place attachment are the perceptions and attitudes of individuals towards the external environment, and clarifying the interaction between the two is of great significance for enhancing the health benefits of scenic areas.[Methods] This study constructed a structural relationship model between environmental preference, place attachment, and the perceived health benefits of recreationists in urban scenic and historic areas, proposed relevant research hypotheses, and took the Langya Mountain as an example for model verification. [Results] The study found that there are three mental paths for the assessment of environmental health benefits of urban scenic and historic areas: the direct influence path of “environmental preference → perceived health benefits” and the indirect influence paths of “environmental preference → place dependence → place identity → perceived health benefits” and “environmental preference → place identity → perceived health benefits”. The results indicate that the preference for the external environment will promote the generation of place dependence, leading to deep emotional attachment. [Conclusion] Therefore, the health benefits of scenic areas can be improved by enhancing the environmental preference and the place attachment of recreationists. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the complex psychological processes by which people’s perception of urban scenic and historic areas influences their physical and mental health. It also provides a reference for the design and management of similar types of scenic areas.