Effects of biophilic design-based sports facilities on exercise continuation intention: mediating effects of exercise immersion and moderating effect of environmental awareness

This article empirically investigates the impact of biophilic design elements in sports facilities on exercise immersion and the intention to continue exercising. Using survey data from 200 physical education majors in South Korea, the study analyzes the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship through mediating and moderating models. The findings demonstrate that biophilic design positively influences both cognitive and behavioral immersion, which in turn significantly predicts sustained exercise intention. While environmental awareness did not moderate the relationship, exercise immersion emerged as a key psychological pathway linking spatial design and long-term physical activity engagement. The study highlights the role of biophilic design in creating sustainable sports facilities that foster deeper user engagement and continued participation.

Key Findings

• Biophilic design elements positively affect both cognitive and behavioral exercise immersion.
• Higher levels of exercise immersion significantly predict the intention to continue exercising.
• Exercise immersion partially mediates the relationship between biophilic design and exercise continuation.
• Behavioral immersion accounts for a larger proportion of the mediation effect than cognitive immersion.
• Environmental awareness does not significantly moderate the relationship between biophilic design and exercise intention.
• Strategic integration of biophilic elements can enhance user experience and promote long-term participation in sports facilities.