Suppakittpaisarn, PongsakornPongsakornSuppakittpaisarnSaeidi-Rizi, FatemehFatemehSaeidi-RiziChang, Chun-YenChun-YenChangYeh, Yu-ChenYu-ChenYehHung, Shih-HanShih-HanHungYeh, AngAngYehChang, Po-JuPo-JuChangCheng, Chia-KuenChia-KuenCheng2025-07-102025-07-102025-05-2223748834https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105005838538&origin=resultslisthttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/730679As the global aging population grows, urban environments must better support older adults. Nearby nature provides health benefits, yet cultural and gender differences in these benefits remain understudied. This study explored how walking in urban parks, agricultural fields, and streets in the US and Taiwan influenced older adults’ psycho-physiological responses, site perceptions, and perceived restorativeness. Eighty-five participants were tested across these settings. Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test results suggested that urban parks and farms were rated more positively than streets across different measures. Furthermore, significant cultural and gender differences emerged, with women experiencing greater benefits. Themes of nostalgia, senses, plants, ecology, people and activities, vehicles, and architecture shaped participants’ experiences, influencing site perceptions and restorativeness. Nostalgia, vehicle presence, and architectural elements significantly predicted differences in perceived benefits. Findings highlight the impact of demographic factors on the restorative potential of natural environments. This study initiates a deeper investigation into how culture and personal history shape environmental experiences for aging populations. Future research should expand sample sizes and contextual considerations to generalize findings more effectively. These insights can inform environmental design strategies that enhance the well-being of older adults across diverse cultural contexts.falsecross-cultural studiesEnvironmental psychologyhealthy agingsustainable developmenturban green spacesjournal article10.1080/23748834.2025.24960072-s2.0-105005838538