The Cortex in Context: Investigating the Influence of Activity and Space on Psychological Well-Being

Bailey, Andrew; Anderson, Madison D.; Cox, Garner

doi:10.1080/01490400.2021.1889421

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Outdoor leisure activities are preferred by users of different ages [ 28 , 39 , 44 ], genders [ 13 ], and cultural backgrounds [ 29 , 45 , 46 ]. Time spent in nature might encompass a wide range of leisure preferences, from leisure gardening, which evidenced contributing to life satisfaction of older adults [ 24 ], to outdoor activities, including enjoyment in walking or outdoor sports [ 34 , 35 , 47 ], or fishing and hunting [ 45 , 48 , 49 ]. Outdoor leisure preferences might reflect users’ connectedness to nature and environmental intelligence [ 49 , 50 , 51 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between Leisure Preferences, Mindfulness, Psychological Capital, and Life Satisfaction

Diržytė

Patapas

Perminas

2022

IJERPH

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This study intended to explore which leisure preferences contribute to mindfulness, psychological capital, and life satisfaction and assess whether mindfulness, psychological capital, and life satisfaction are associated with different leisure preferences. This study applied the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-12), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), and the instrument to evaluate the prevalence of leisure preferences. A sample consisted of 586 participants, 104 males and 478 females. The mean age of participants was 42.06, SD = 13.29. The results show that respondents who did not spend free time watching television scored higher on life satisfaction, mindfulness, and psychological capital. Participants who preferred attending events scored higher on life satisfaction and psychological capital. Participants who preferred spending time with family as a leisure preference scored significantly higher on life satisfaction, mindfulness, and psychological capital, including PsyCap overall, PsyCap work, PsyCap relationship, and PsyCap health. The findings also reveal that time spent with family is significantly associated with life satisfaction. Besides, males’ life satisfaction was significantly associated with time spent in nature, while females’ satisfaction was associated with spending time with family and participating in events. Males’ mindfulness was significantly associated with book reading, and females’ mindfulness was associated with not watching television. Males’ psychological capital was significantly associated with spending time with family and book reading, and females’ psychological capital was associated with not watching television but spending time with family, participating in events, and spending time in nature. The findings also showed that mindfulness mediated the link between watching television and life satisfaction, and psychological capital mediated links between spending time with family, participating in events, and life satisfaction. The findings demonstrate that life satisfaction is also significantly associated with spending time with family as a leisure preference. This study also revealed a significant negative association between age and spending time with friends or family, evidencing the possible loneliness of elderly respondents. Due to limitations of this study, including sample size and characteristics, cultural context, and research design, the research findings would preferably be regarded thoughtfully.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations between Leisure Preferences, Mindfulness, Psychological Capital, and Life Satisfaction

Diržytė

Patapas

Perminas

2022

IJERPH

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“…Acknowledgement of best practices for mental restoration, as well as incentivizing and removing barriers to such activities, can improve cognitive performance, translating to better academic achievement, worker productivity, and mental health. Commonly, mental breaks consist of shifting one’s attention to social media, while remaining sedentary in an indoor environment, all of which further deplete mental attention and interfere with cognitive function [ 23 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prolific research on forest bathing, for example, has shown reduced sympathetic and increased parasympathetic nervous system responses as a result of time spent in natural environments, including reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol and adrenaline levels, physical pain, and changes in brain activity conducive to relaxation [ 21 ]. Encephalographic (EEG) research has confirmed an immediate parasympathetic response when encountering parks on an urban walk, evidenced by higher amplitude alpha and theta wave oscillations and decreased “busy brain” signals such as beta and gamma [ 22 , 23 ]. Indirect interactions, such as nature photographs, videos, and virtual scenery also engender positive results [ 15 ], though full nature immersion may amplify impacts through temperature changes, auditory stimulus, and plant-based aerosols [ 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Walking and Sitting Outdoors: Which Is Better for Cognitive Performance and Mental States?

Bailey

Kang

2022

IJERPH

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Myriad research indicates that physical activity and natural environments enhance cognitive performance and mental health. Much of this research is cross-sectional or involves physical activity in outdoor environments, rendering it difficult to ascribe the results to a particular condition. This study utilized electroencephalography (EEG) and established cognitive performance tasks to determine the impact of a short intervention including either walking or sitting in an outdoor environment. In this experiment, a total of 50 participants were randomized into walking and sitting groups, with cognitive performance measured before, after, and 10 min post intervention. Both groups demonstrated improvements in cognitive performance, with no significant difference between groups. Elevated levels of relaxation during the intervention were the best predictor of post-test performance. Participants reporting a higher connection to nature, as well as state-based mindfulness during the outdoor intervention, also reported lower levels of frontal theta (i.e., rumination) during the interaction, while the walking group demonstrated higher relaxation. These findings provide a direct connection to neural mechanisms influenced by physical activity and the natural environment, and their impact on cognitive performance. This supports Attention Restoration Theory and the effectiveness of short outdoor interventions incorporating physical activity as a method of restoring mental attention.

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“…Health impacts by 'routines of stress' can alter brain patterns with the continued release of chemicals such as cortisol, which are related to design impacts including odour, air quality, heat stress, mould, or allergies from material toxicology [6]. By considering environmental neurocognition and biochemical impacts [4,21], design applications such as anti-viral lighting in high density residential spaces can support mental health [22]. Value management can be useful for considering the cost/benefit variables [23] in the design stages of construction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Re-Thinking Spatial Design in Homes to Include Means and Access Restriction with Material Impacts as Passive Suicide Prevention Methods: A Systematic Review of Design for Australian Homes

2023

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This systematic review analyses research that introduces commercial design applications that could be adopted for suicide prevention in homes. Furthermore, this literature review captures social, spatial and biophilic design methods to improve wellness in homes using environmental design psychology. Safety and human wellness frame this spatial design research that examines means and access restriction to improve home safety and prevent suicides. Suicide is a growing phenomenon that deserves specific attention to how environments can impact or restrict events. There is a substantial evidence base to evaluate suicide prevention methods used in high-risk environments of health and healing environments, workplaces and incarceration facilities. This review outlines design methods using spatial arrangement and material choices to improve human wellness in homes. The effects of biochemical reactions, such as those studied in toxicology, and stress are considered in this research to suggest material choices and applications in design to improve mental health in homes. Spatial designs for suicide prevention can guide various prevention measures, such as adopting means and access restriction and environmental design methods for wellness and considering impacts during lockdown periods. Environmental design psychology research supplies evidence for improved spatial arrangements in homes, with evidence showing that design applications can restore and improve mental health. This systematic review shows evidence for planning methods to prevent suicides considering both means and access restriction with considerable biochemical impacts from design. Design methods discovered by this systematic review will be considered for future studies and used within economic modelling to demonstrate design guidelines that improve wellbeing and support existing suicide prevention methods for Australian homes.

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The Cortex in Context: Investigating the Influence of Activity and Space on Psychological Well-Being

Cited by 5 publications

References 53 publications

Associations between Leisure Preferences, Mindfulness, Psychological Capital, and Life Satisfaction

Associations between Leisure Preferences, Mindfulness, Psychological Capital, and Life Satisfaction

Walking and Sitting Outdoors: Which Is Better for Cognitive Performance and Mental States?

Re-Thinking Spatial Design in Homes to Include Means and Access Restriction with Material Impacts as Passive Suicide Prevention Methods: A Systematic Review of Design for Australian Homes

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