Well-being derived from the riverscape: linking comfort and discomfort agents

This research offers an integrated look at people’s attitudes towards urban riverscapes. Intentional interactions with nature are important for urban residents as they influence visitors’ physical and mental well-being through multiple comfort and discomfort agents. Positive effects—usually framed as cultural ecosystem services—are often emphasised. However, it is also important to consider negative aspects, such as disturbing and unpleasant nature-related phenomena (often conceptualised as ecosystem disservices) or man-induced negative effects. This study employs the results of a representative survey to identify interconnections between well-being agents in the context of the Vistula River in Warsaw, Poland. At the citywide scale, respondents recalled what made their visits comfortable or uncomfortable. Then, they chose up to five of the most significant well-being agents, mapped them and enriched with visitation preferences (analysis at the local scale). While factor analysis clearly distinguished comfort and discomfort agents in the citywide scale, local-scale associations are more complex. Four key ways to influence visitors’ well-being revolved around (1) emotional attachment to the river and both benefits and drawbacks of riverine nature; (2) nature-related discomfort and lacks of amenities; (3) pros and cons of social interactions, and (4) sport and creativity opportunities and safety concerns. They are significantly linked to the characteristics of the visited places and time preferences of visits, with broadness of view and landscape homogeneity level as variables impacting all of them. Understanding synergies and/or trade-offs between well-being agents, along with identifying their environmental drivers, may foster the sustainable management of urban natural spaces.