Spatial Modelling of Psychosocial Benefits of Favourite Places in Denmark : A Tale of Two Cities

In the present study, we explore the effect of individual and household socioeconomic factors on benefits derived from favourite places in an urban metropolitan area (capital city) and a provincial commuter town in Denmark. We also model the spatial pattern(s) of the benefits derived from favourite locations in the two cities. An online public participatory geographic information system (PPGIS) approach was employed to garner information on favourite locations, benefits derived from favourite locations, and the socioeconomic and household characteristics of 1,400 respondents. We employed Bayesian modelling with Stochastic Partial Differential Equations under the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation framework (INLA‑SPDE) to predict the spatial pattern(s) of the four classifications of benefits – restorative, physical activity, socializing and cultural – for enjoying favourite places in the two municipalities. The results reveal differences in the effect of socioeconomic status on the likelihood of enjoying favourite places due to restorative, physical activity, socializing and cultural benefits among residents in the two study municipalities. The findings also show longer distance from home to favourite increase the likelihood (β=0.318, CI= 0∙189 - 0∙450) of deriving restorative benefits for participants in Copenhagen. The opposite association was observed for participants in Roskilde (β=-0.061, CI= -0∙112 - -0∙011). The findings can inform the development of urban planning policies and programs to incorporate experiential places in the planning framework, paving the way to create inclusive and sustainable cities