Are greenspace attributes associated with perceived restorativeness? A comparative study of urban cemeteries and parks in Edinburgh, Scotland

Lai, Ka Yan; Sarkar, Chinmoy; Sun, Ziwen; Scott, Iain

doi:10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126720

Cited by 33 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…While barriers to accessing greenspace-such as perceived (non-COVID related) safety (Cheesbrough et al, 2019;Lai et al, 2020) and lack of physical access (Wolch et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2015)-are present in our study, we do not find that these represent the primary barriers to access identified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather we find that the perceived risk of going outdoors, specifically due to COVID-19, is decreasing perceived accessibility.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

“…Moreover, the pandemic is also potentially affecting factors known to negatively influence the relationship between greenspace and SWB. Foremost among these previously identified factors are concerns with safety and perceived safety (Lai et al, 2020). Here, both vegetation and spatial arrangement of greenspace have been identified as influencing the degree of perceived safety (Jorgensen et al, 2002;Jansson et al, 2013;Sreetheran and Van Den Bosch, 2014;Lis et al, 2019;Mouratidis, 2019).…”

Section: Subjective Well-being and Greenspace Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding Multiple Dimensions of Perceived Greenspace Accessibility and Their Effect on Subjective Well-Being During a Global Pandemic

Maurer

Cook

Yoon

et al. 2021

Front. Sustain. Cities

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The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how the accessibility of greenspace can shift in response to social-ecological disturbance, and generated questions as to how changing dimensions of accessibility affect the ecosystem services of greenspace, such as improved subjective well-being. Amidst the growing consensus of the important role of greenspace in improving and maintaining well-being through times of duress, we examine how access to greenspace is affecting subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both the relationship of greenspace to subjective well-being and the barriers to greenspace access are well-established for normal conditions. Much remains to be known, however, about how barriers to access and the effect of greenspace on subjective well-being shift in response to periods of social duress, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from surveys and interviews conducted with 1,200 university students in the United States during the spring of 2020, we assess the effect of going outdoors on subjective well-being, commonly experienced barriers to going outside, and how these barriers in turn affected subjective well-being. We find that time spent outside, particularly in greenspace, correlates with higher levels of subjective well-being, and that concern over COVID-19 risk and transmission negatively affects this relationship both in reducing time spent outdoors and the subjective well-being benefits. We also find that type of greenspace (public vs. private) does not have a significant effect on subjective well-being, that while those in areas with lower population density have significantly higher subjective well-being when outdoors, all participants experience a statistically equal benefit to subjective well-being by going outside. Our findings suggest how understanding the ways dimensions of accessibility shift in response to times of social duress can aid public health messaging, the design and management of greenspace, and environmental justice efforts to support the use of greenspace in improving and maintaining subjective well-being during future crisis events.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

Section: Subjective Well-being and Greenspace Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Multiple Dimensions of Perceived Greenspace Accessibility and Their Effect on Subjective Well-Being During a Global Pandemic

Maurer

Cook

Yoon

et al. 2021

Front. Sustain. Cities

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“…It is an effortless process with unlimited capacity. Based on ART, a physical environment with presence of restorative characteristics has the ability to recover mental fatigue or diminish psychological resources ( 41 ). In fact, the mechanistic effect of perceived restorativeness is the actual requirement in this process, which involves perception of “being away” (escape and novelty), “fascination,” “extent” and “compatibility” that can lead to psychological and cognitive restoration experience ( 42 , 43 ).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From a mental health perspective, the measure of perceived restorativeness takes into account perception of green space qualities that may have substantial restorative value in capturing psychological benefits. For instance, Lai et al ( 41 ) showed that pleasantness and aesthetic quality are significant predictors of perceived restorativeness. Several other perceived qualities have been investigated in this association such as comfort, safety, attractiveness and maintenance ( 14 ).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Mental Health Impacts of University Campus Green Space Through Perceived Sensory Dimensions and the Mediation Effects of Perceived Restorativeness on Restoration Experience

Malekinezhad

Courtney

Lamit

et al. 2020

Front. Public Health

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Introduction: Green spaces support people mentally in their everyday life. Perceived restorativeness and Perceived Sensory Dimension (PSD) have been addressed as optimal environmental related characteristics with regards to psychological restoration. However, relatively little research has investigated how the perception of these characteristics, directly and indirectly, affects restoration experience, particularly in a sample of university students within the area of green outdoor campus landscapes.Methods: This study hypothesizes these associations through application of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), inputting data from a sample of university students in Malaysia. In the hypothesized model, we examine the degree of restoration that is enjoyed by subjects within landscapes through the effects of these characteristics. Indirect effects of perceived restorativeness via evaluation of mediation effects associated with perception of landscape characteristics and restoration experience are also investigated.Results: Through validation of the measurement model, we find significant positive coefficient paths with adequate predictive abilities in the hypothesized model. Findings suggest the effect of PSD on perceived restorativeness leads to a better explanation of restoration experience. In addition, perceived landscape characteristics of PSD enhance restoration experience in alignment with perceived restorativeness characteristics.Conclusions: Greater effects on restoration experience come through perceived restorativeness that is affected by PSD, which itself is capable of promoting favorable experiences of restorativeness in a green space and facilitating psychological restorative outcomes. The mechanistic effect of emotional regulation implies a distinct role of green spaces in maintaining good mental health and has relevance to public health models that promote independence and well-being through preventative approaches. The work paves the way for further studies that examine which dimensions of PSD support perceived restorativeness and restoration experience more than others, and the wider psycho-social value of green spaces through the application of mediation effects and personal sensory dimensions in the development of mental health.

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“…The quantitative assessment of the spatial quality of UGS requires the use of secondary indicators. Researchers have variously suggested relationships between individual health and spatial quality characteristics of UGS, such as size [15], location [16,17], space type [18,19], vegetation cover [20], or Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) [21]. Also, it could be that the mental health benefits of green spaces are influenced by how these green spaces are perceived.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Emotional Responses to the Spatial Quality of Urban Green Spaces through Self-Report and Face Recognition Measures

Lin

Zhuang

Zhang

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Although creating a high-quality urban green space (UGS) is of considerable importance in public health, few studies have used individuals’ emotions to evaluate the UGS quality. This study aims to conduct a multidimensional emotional assessment method of UGS from the perspective of spatial quality. Panoramic videos of 15 scenes in the West Lake Scenic Area were displayed to 34 participants. For each scene, 12 attributes regarding spatial quality were quantified, including perceived plant attributes, spatial structure attributes, and experiences of UGS. Then, the Self-Assessment-Manikin (SAM) scale and face recognition model were used to measure people’s valence-arousal emotion values. Among all the predictors, the percentages of water and plants were the most predictive indicators of emotional responses measured by SAM scale, while the interpretation rate of the model measured by face recognition was insufficiently high. Concerning gender differences, women experienced a significantly higher valence than men. Higher percentages of water and plants, larger sizes, approximate shape index, and lower canopy densities were often related to positive emotions. Hence, designers must consider all structural attributes of green spaces, as well as enrich visual perception and provide various activities while creating a UGS. In addition, we suggest combining both physiological and psychological methods to assess emotional responses in future studies. Because the face recognition model can provide objective measurement of emotional responses, and the self-report questionnaire is much easier to administer and can be used as a supplement.

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Are greenspace attributes associated with perceived restorativeness? A comparative study of urban cemeteries and parks in Edinburgh, Scotland

Cited by 33 publications

References 69 publications

Understanding Multiple Dimensions of Perceived Greenspace Accessibility and Their Effect on Subjective Well-Being During a Global Pandemic

Understanding Multiple Dimensions of Perceived Greenspace Accessibility and Their Effect on Subjective Well-Being During a Global Pandemic

Investigating the Mental Health Impacts of University Campus Green Space Through Perceived Sensory Dimensions and the Mediation Effects of Perceived Restorativeness on Restoration Experience

Assessing Emotional Responses to the Spatial Quality of Urban Green Spaces through Self-Report and Face Recognition Measures

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