The Relationship Between Perceived Greenness and Perceived Restorativeness of University Campuses and Student-Reported Quality of Life

Abstract

University students are exposed to many stressors, necessitating opportunities for restoration. Research has indicated that actual experiences in nearby green spaces are associated with restorative psychological and physiological health benefits. However, the perception of greenness and restorativeness of environments might also impact health outcomes. Can green campus spaces provide restorative potential to university students? Do students perceive the greenness and restorative benefits? To explore these questions, students at three universities (convenience sample) were surveyed with items on perceived greenness of campus, perceived restorativeness of campus, and the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale. Results indicate that those with higher perceived campus greenness report greater quality of life, a pathway significantly and partially mediated by perceived campus restorativeness. Future research should help identify effective ways in which university green spaces can be developed as health resources for students.

Investigation into University Students Restoration Experience: The Effects of Perceived Sensory Dimension and Perceived Restorativeness

“…This is congruence with earlier studies that showed mediation effect of perceived restorativeness on the effect of environmental qualities on emotional well-being (Carrus et al 2015;Marselle et al 2016) and university students better quality of life Hipp et al (2016). The association of PSD and restorativeness has been demonstrated by previous studies (Peschardt and Stigsdotter 2013;Stigsdotter et al 2017;Stoltz et al 2016).…”

“…To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the mediator effect of perceived restorativeness on the relationship between PSD and restoration experience is examined. Similar with other studies that showed mediation effect of perceived restorativeness (Carrus et al 2015;Hipp et al 2016;Marselle et al 2016), this study showed that perceived restorativeness is important in shaping relationship between PSD and restoration experience. Greater restoration experience highly depends on effect of PSDs on perceived restorativeness, and then experience of restorative outcomes.…”

“…Therefore, research based on perceived restorativeness approach evaluates perception towards the potential restorativeness capacity of physical environment by evaluation on the proposed components (Ivarsson and & Hagerhall 2008). Perceived restorativeness has been considered to play a mediating role in explaining how nature can induce positive outcomes in recent studies (Hipp et al 2016;Marselle et al 2015Marselle et al 2016. landscape characteristics of 'serene', 'wild', 'space', 'rich in species', 'culture', 'the common', 'the pleasure garden' and 'festive' (Grahn et al 2005).…”

“…It is recharging of the psychological, physiological and emotional capacities, which are diminished in performing of daily life tasks (Han 2003). Perceived restorativeness characteristics have acted as the supportive mechanism on the effect of environment qualities and positive outcomes (Hipp et al 2016;Marselle et al 2016). Salutogenic landscapes with a set of specific characteristics are suggested for mental restoration as some were shown to be more influential than others in this process (Grahn and Stigsdotter 2010).…”

“…Although, understanding the significance of underlying measurement variables urged by many studies (e.g. Hipp et al 2016;Marselle et al 2016), there are few to take the approach for understanding the…”