Nature-based interventions system for the urban population with sub-healthy state: an analysis using the CiteSpace and VOSviewer

Amid rapid urbanization and rising health challenges, nature-based interventions (NBI) have emerged as a multidisciplinary focus for enhancing well-being and environmental sustainability. This study analyzed 35,418 publications from the Web of Science (1985–2023) using bibliometric tools (CiteSpace, VOSviewer) to map trends in NBI research. The annual number of publications, research institutions, and keywords were systematically analyzed. The conclusions drawn from this analysis are as follows: (1) The annual publication volume in the field of nature-based interventions has been steadily growing, reflecting the rising interest and recognition of its importance within the research community; (2) The research direction is gradually exhibiting diverse characteristics, spanning multiple disciplinary fields; (3) The current research predominantly emphasizes on four dimensions of nature-based interventions: physiological therapy, mental health, rehabilitation effects of physical activity, and the enhancement of quality of life across various population group. However, systematic exploration of the benefits of nature-based interventions for the sub-healthy population remains limited particularly concerning their impact on social health. Therefore, future research should place greater emphasis on examining the interactive relationship between nature-based interventions and the social health of sub-healthy populations, offering valuable references and inspiration for further research.