Several studies suggest that contact with natural environments enhance restoration of directed attention better than experience of other environments devoid of nature. This study attempts to validate the self-report measures of the components of a restorative environment and perceived stress through an exploratory study of the multi-stimulus Obudu mountain resort environment. Twenty-two respondents randomly co-opted at the study site had their perception of stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) while their perceived restoration was measured by the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS). Results indicate an acceptable stable and consistent coefficient alpha across the scores. We found that perceived stress is significantly related to fascination and age while being away, extent, compatibility and length of days were not significant. The results support the reliability and constructs of the PSS and the PRS in a mountain environment. The finding is a further indication of the universality of the underlying postulates behind restorative environments, human response and wellbeing.
<p class="1Body">The issue of variations in physiological indicators of wellbeing based on gender serves as incentive for natural landscape environment interactions. This study examined gender variations in blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate between contact with low-altitude urban (pretest) and mountain landscape environments (posttest). To attain the goal of this study, 38 respondents (16 males, 22 females) participated in the seven-day experimental study. Pretest and posttest measures of blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate were elicited from both male and female respondents at the urban environment within the first three days and at the mountain landscape environment the following three days. Results show that both male and female systolic blood pressure increased at the mountain landscape environment while their diastolic blood pressure reduced marginally. There was no difference in gender response in terms of pulse rate. Conversely, male respondents experienced reduction of respiratory rate at the mountain landscape environment while female respondents experienced increase. Findings suggest that the only apparent difference in gender response is in their respiratory rate. The extent to which gender might be related to physiological wellbeing through contact with natural mountain landscape environment is revealed. Hence, a platform is set for policy makers and governments for the creative harnessing of mountain landscape environments.</p>
Specific natural environments evoke restorative potentials for the amelioration of stress necessary for human wellbeing. However, studies focusing on the evaluation of this phenomenon have covered mainly forests, wilderness and urban landscape features, while mountain landscape features have not been adequately explored. This study examined the perception of individuals regarding the benefits of contact with the features of a mountain landscape environment in relation to human wellbeing. A direct rating scale questionnaire was administered to 200 respondents drawn from a population of lecturers and students. Overall findings suggest that the multi-stimulus Obudu mountain landscape environment possesses the potential to enhance wellbeing through excitement, calmness and stress relief. This finding will inform policy makers and landscape architects in decision-making concerning the development of mountain landscape environments and provision of landscape features for specific environments.
Meningococcal meningitis is an airborne disease that has been a threat to human life in many regions of the world, especially in West Africa. The disease has caused permanent physical impairment to some of its victims and many lives have been lost due to the disease. Factors that are associated with the incidence of the disease which are geographically referenced include built environment, geographical location and climatic conditions. Others are socioeconomic and demographic factors. This study established the relationship between built environment and socioeconomic factors with the incidence of the disease. Data that were used include the incidences of the disease from 2007 to 2011, housing conditions, population density, number of house ownership, employment, income level, and the number of hospitals, schools and refuse dumps. Neighborhoods were used as the unit of analysis in the study. The method of analyzing the data includes factor analysis and some statistical techniques in Geographical Information System such as the Ordinary Least Square (OLS). The findings of the study reveal the spatial variations of the incidence of Meningococcal meningitis in Kaduna Urban Area (KUA). The study recommends that there should be strict observance of the development control regulations especially at the high density residential neighborhood. The model can also be used for other communicable disease to ensure the health of the public.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.