A systematic review of the Nexus between campus green spaces and mental well-being in mainland China and Hong Kong

ObjectiveThis systematic review examines the association between campus green spaces and mental well-being among university students, with a specific focus on evidence from mainland China and Hong Kong. It synthesizes findings on how different measures of greenness relate to mental health outcomes, including stress, anxiety, depression, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being.MethodsThe systematic search was conducted in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses literature search extension (PRISMA-S) extension for reporting search strategies. Five databases (Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, CNKI, CrossRef, and OpenAlex) were searched. Studies were screened against predetermined eligibility criteria, and data were extracted and synthesized using a structured narrative approach due to methodological heterogeneity.ResultsA total of 988 records were identified, of which 22 studies were selected after initial screening and full-text assessment. Most studies have shown that people who spent time in campus green spaces experienced improved mental health results, including lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and greater life satisfaction. Studies reported more reliable results using subjective greenness assessments than with objective measurements such as NDVI. Identified pathways included physical activity, social interaction, and place attachment, which affected the relationship between the two variables.ConclusionThe result indicates that exposure to campus green spaces is associated with better mental health among university students in mainland China and Hong Kong. While the evidence base is methodologically diverse, findings demonstrate that campus green infrastructure, as part of mental health promotion techniques, is a cost-effective and scalable measure. This review provides a geographically focused synthesis of evidence from mainland China and Hong Kong, contributing to the understanding of how campus green spaces relate to student mental well-being in high-density urban contexts.