Research suggests that interacting with nature has positive psychological, physiological, and cognitive benefits. Views to nature, interacting with nature, and other visual nature stimuli have been widely studied. However, nature soundscapes have received less attention; and the limited research that has been published has mixed findings. The present study assessed whether nature soundscapes influenced performance on cognitive and affective assessments. Participants completed the Flanker task, the Stroop task, a Visual Search task, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, while exposed to either nature sounds alone, nature sounds with outdoor views, or neither. No statistically significant differences in performance were found for any of the three conditions, on either the cognitive and affective assessments. These findings indicate that the relation between nature sounds and cognition is more complex than originally presumed, and potential future directions are discussed. / Graduate / 2020-04-11

Flertalet studier har visat att grönområden främjar människors fysiska och psykiska hälsa. I takt med en ökad urbanisering och stadsutbyggnad ersätts naturliga miljöer med bebyggelse vilket påverkar befolkningen i urbana miljöer negativt, eftersom urbana grönområden genererar viktiga ekosystemtjänster. En urban livsstil kan dessutom medföra hälsorisker som psykisk ohälsa, hjärt-kärlsjukdomar och fysisk inaktivitet. Syftet med uppsatsen var att genom en kvalitativ ansats undersöka vilken betydelse urbana grönområden har haft för enskilda invånare i Helsingborg under covid-19-pandemin. Tio kvalitativa e-postintervjuer genomfördes och empirin analyserades med en induktiv ansats. Uppsatsens teoretiska ramverk bestod av Attention restoration theory samt Stress recovery theory och den insamlade empirin gav upphov till följande teman: lugn och ro, hämta energi, samt miljöombyte. Resultatet visar att urbana grönområden har betydelse för informanternas hälsa, eftersom urbana grönområden bidrar till återhämtning och stressminskning, vilket är betydande faktorer för en god fysisk och psykisk hälsa. Utifrån studiens resultat kan slutsatsen dras att genom att bevara urbana grönområden kanmänniskors livskvalitet öka eftersom urbana grönområden bidrar till bättre fysisk och psykisk hälsa i samhället. / Former studies have shown that urban green spaces improve physical and mental health.Urbanisation and urban development result in green environments being replaced by buildings. This has a negative effect on urban residents as urban green spaces provide important ecosystem services. An urban lifestyle can involve health risks such as mental illness, cardiovascular disease, and physical inactivity. This study aimed to investigate through a qualitative approach, the importance of urban green spaces for individual residents of Helsingborg during the covid-19 pandemic. Ten qualitative e-mail interviews were conducted, and the empirical findings were analyzed with an inductive approach. The collected empirics resulted in the following themes: peace and quiet, gain energy, and change of scenery. The results were analyzed through the theoretical framework Attention restoration theory and Stress recovery theory. The results showed that urban green spacesare essential for the informant’s health, as they contribute to recovery and stress reduction, which are significant factors for good physical and mental health. The main conclusion of this study shows that by preserving urban green spaces, people’s quality of life can increase as urban green spaces contribute to better physical and mental health in society.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Mary Catherine (Katie) Kingery-Page / Restorative landscapes, healing gardens, and therapeutic gardens can improve mental and physical health. They relieve stress, slow us down and make us appreciate the present moment (Kaplan 1995). Research confirms these benefits: “A restorative environment provides measurable physical and/or psychological benefit to human health” (Krinke 2005, 107). Unfortunately, few restorative landscapes are designed for night time use, though stress and the need for healing occur at all hours of the day and night. To that end, the purpose of this research is to create a set of lighting design strategies that will enable designers to create restorative landscapes for nighttime use and demonstrate how they can be applied. A literature review synthesizing the information on healing garden types, outdoor lighting techniques, and their relationship to Attention Restoration Theory, identified four main components required for a space to be considered restorative. Two precedent studies allowed the author to explore the components of Attention Restoration Theory and healing garden types. The lighting principles that afford these four components and healing garden types that are best suited for an urban public space were layered in a final design to create a restorative urban space that is functional at night. The set of design strategies created with the support of this research was applied to Occidental Square, a public park in Seattle, Washington. The applied design strategies are represented and demonstrated through the site design. With these tools in hand, designers can create spaces for those in need of rejuvenation, restoration, and tranquility not only during the day, but also at night.

Previous research has revealed that green spaces provide numerous benefits to human beings. One such benefit is the proven ability of green spaces to restore individuals’ attention capacities. However, there exists very little literature that examines these benefits in the context of tertiary education campuses. University campuses are hubs where full-time students spend many hours daily during the course of their studies and are therefore exposed to the benefits of the landscaping on their campuses. This study therefore aimed to determine the manner in which students at the University of Pretoria perceive the on-campus green spaces, specifically in terms of the restorative properties of these areas. Quantitative data collection strategies were utilised, yielding a final sample size of 286 participants. A survey was employed as the research design, and included both closed and open-ended questions. Results indicated a generally positive perception of the green spaces on campus. Students tend to enjoy spending time in green spaces and find all green spaces that were addressed restorative. The Manie van der Schijff Botanical Garden was rated as the most restorative green space on campus. Future research includes exploring the link between attention restoration and academic achievement of students in order to better understand the role green spaces play in this regard. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / lk2014 / Psychology / MA / Unrestricted

Hooves 4 Healing: The Capacity of the Horse in Breast Cancer Rehabilitation is a multifaceted, evidence-based program that uses horses and nature as the media for the physical, cognitive, and psychological rehabilitation of individuals who have or had breast cancer. Such vulnerabilities may occur from the cancer disease itself, as well as from the processes used to treat it. Physical vulnerabilities include decreased strength, range of motion and upper-body coordination, cardiovascular endurance, balance, and mobility. Cancer-related cognitive impairments include vulnerabilities in executive functioning such as planning, memory, attention, and problem-solving. Cancer and its treatments often elicit mental fatigue that negatively affects attention and the joy of life. Collectively, these vulnerabilities may lead to occupational imbalance through the loss of independence and engagement in important and meaningful roles and relationships. Through grooming and quiet reflective interactions with horses in outdoor environments such as paddocks or fields, Hooves 4 Healing addresses these vulnerabilities. Engaging in a novel equine-based rehabilitation program in a nonclinical environment will support participants’ physical, cognitive, and psychosocial needs in a restorative, nature-rich setting, thus facilitating the return to meaningful occupations and life roles.

This dissertation investigates the effects of multisensory biophilic restorative experiences on how engineers feel, think, and design. While previous research on the restorative effects of biophilic experiences have mostly focused on the benefits of visual exposure, less is known about the potential of exposure to auditory and multisensory stimuli. Moreover, a knowledge gap exists in regards to how the cognitive benefits of biophilic restorative experiences influence performance in real-world cognitive tasks, like design. To address the identified knowledge gaps, a randomized controlled trial with 154 participants was conducted, exploring the restorative effects of biophilic auditory, visual, and multisensory (auditory + visual) experiences after induced psychosocial stress. To assess the potential influence on the performance of a real-world cognitive tasks, an open-ended design task was given to participants following the exposure period. Dependent variables tracked covered three key domains of the research question: (1) psychological and physiological responses (feel), (2) neurocognitive responses (think), and (3) design originality and incorporation of biophilia (design). Results showed that the biophilic auditory experience induced higher physiological arousal during and after exposure, while the visual and multisensory conditions presented evidence of increased neural efficiency. The biophilic conditions assisted in restoring cognitive resources and improved prefrontal cortical functional connectivity, specifically within main hubs of the Default Mode Network (DMN). However, better engagement of the DMN did not result in more original design products. No significant differences were found for exploration of the design space across conditions. Interestingly, the visual group incorporated significantly more biophilic design patterns, such as "Visual Connection with Nature" and "Presence of Water", in their design concepts. This finding suggests a potential priming effect, where exposure to biophilic stimuli influenced designers' choices towards more nature-connected ideas. The study here presented contributes to the understanding of biophilic restorative experiences' nuanced effects on physiology, neurocognition, and design cognition. Accessibility and availability of the interventions tested affords readily replication of the experiment design and application of findings to the general public. / Doctor of Philosophy / This dissertation explores how exposure to simulated nature experiences through different senses affects how engineers feel, think, and design. Two main environmental psychology theories propose that nature experiences can aid in the recovery from stressful states and mental fatigue. The Kaplans' Attention Restoration Theory suggests that looking at nature can help the brain recover from overuse by allowing it to restore attentional resources. Roger Ulrich's Stress Reduction Theory proposes that nature experiences can reduce stress by calming the body and the mind. While previous studies have mainly explored the effects of exposure to nature through visual experiences, the study presented here examines the effects of exposure to nature-based sounds (birdsong and water sounds), as well as exposure to the combination of sounds and visuals (indoor plants, nature-inspired art, and daylight). Additionally, it investigates how the potential benefits to the brain and mind influence performance in real-world tasks like designing. To explore these effects, 154 engineering students were randomly assigned to different groups and exposed to nature sounds, nature visuals, or a combination of both, after being induced to a stressful state. After the exposure period, participants were given an open-ended design task. Throughout the experiment, participants' bodily responses were tracked by a wrist-worn device and participants' brain activity was tracked by a brain-imaging headset. Design concepts produced in the design task were assessed for originality and for the incorporation of nature-inspired ideas. Results showed that listening to nature sounds increased arousal of the body both during and after the exposure period. Visual, as well as combined auditory and visual exposure improved brain efficiency. All nature experiences helped restore mental resources and improved brain connectivity, particularly in areas associated with mind wandering. Although better brain connectivity did not result in more original design concepts, interestingly, participants in the visual exposure group incorporated more nature-related features, like bodies of water and natural views, into their designs. This finding suggests that seeing nature might inspire more nature-connected design ideas. This study enhances our understanding of how nature experiences affect the body, brain, and mind. The interventions tested can be easily replicated and applied in everyday settings so that anyone can benefit off of their outcomes.

Minskad rörelse i vardagen är ett problem som idag blir allt större i världen. Trots att människor idag blir allt mer regelbundet fysiskt aktiva och utför mer planerad träning mer, minskar den rörelse i vardagen som krävs för att upprätthålla en god hälsa och minska risken för att dö i förtid. Någonting som visat sig kunna öka vardagsrörelse är närvaron av parkmiljöer. Forskning har visat på att där färre parker fanns, rörde människor på sig mindre. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka relationen mellan vardagsrörelse och parkmiljöer utifrån fysiskt aktiva unga vuxnas uppfattning. Metoden som användes var intervjuer av unga vuxna (18 - 30 års ålder). Varför detta urval användes var för att denna åldersgrupp tidigare ansetts ha god hälsa under denna levnadsperiod, men nya rön visar på att människor i dessa åldrar blir allt mer inaktiva i vardagen. Fysiskt aktiva människor valdes var för att se hur deras uppfattningar om rörelse utöver deras normala träning betyder för just dem. Sex stycken aktiva unga vuxna individer rekryterades till studien och intervjuades. Resultatet visade på att unga vuxna förstår innebörden av vilka positiva effekter rörelse ger, men var samtidigt negativt inställda till att besöka parkmiljöer. Den enstaka rörelsen i parker som studiedeltagarna angav var i form av promenader och löpturer. Deltagarna menade på att fler olika typer av verksamheter och gratisaktiviteter (kiosker, utomhusgym, etc.) bör finnas tillgängliga, för att öka besöksnivån i parkmiljöer under längre tid, samt bedriva mer vardagsrörelse där. / Reduced movement in everyday life is a problem that is becoming increasingly common in the world today. Although people today are becoming more and more regularly physically active and conduct more planned exercise, the everyday movement that is needed to maintain a good health and reduce the risk of dying prematurely, is decreasing. Something that has been shown to increase everyday activity is the presence of park environments. Research has shown that where fewer parks existed, people were more sedentary and less active. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between everyday movement and park environments based on the view of physically active young adults. The method used in this study consisted of interviewing young adults (18-30 years of age). Why this selection was used was because this group of age were previously considered to have good health during their period of life, but new evidence shows that people of these ages are becoming increasingly inactive in their daily lives. Physically active people were chosen to see how their perceptions of movement in addition to their normal training meant to them. Six active young adults were recruited to the study and interviewed. The results showed that young adults understand the meaning of the positive effects of movement, but at the same time they were negatively motivated to visit park environments. The single movement in parks indicated by the participants was in the form of walks and jogging. Participants suggested that more types of activities (kiosks, outdoor gyms, etc.) should be available to increase the visitor level in park environments for a longer period of time, as well as conduct more daily living there.

I samband med förtätning av städer minskar andelen grönska per invånare, vilket ställer krav på att städer planerar för miljöer med grönska som främjar mental återhämtning och andra ekosystemtjänster. Med underlag av att Malmö stad är en av de städer i Sverige som har minst grönska per invånare, och att torg är potentiella offentliga rum för att öka grönska, innehåller följande studie en analys av Nobeltorget och Masttorget med inriktning på grönska och mental återhämtning. Syftet med studien har varit att analysera hur två torg som nyligen byggts eller byggts om är utformade utifrån målet att uppnå ökad grönska i staden.Studien består av två separata undersökningar, där resultatet har använts för analys av de mål som formulerats i Malmö stads Grönplan och Översiktsplan. Planeringsinstrumentet grönytefaktorn har använts som verktyg för att skapa kvalitativa värden genom att kvantitativt beräkna andelen grönska på torgen. En enkätstudie har utformats med Perceived Restoration Scale, för att undersöka upplevelsen av Nobeltorget och Masttorget genom en värdering utifrån fotografier av torgen. Resultatet av fältstudien visar att andelen grönska skiljer sig betydligt mellan torgen, där Nobeltorget har mer grönska i förhållande till den totala ytan, jämfört med Masttorget. Resultatet av enkätstudien visade på mindre skillnader i upplevelsen av torgen, där Nobeltorget värderas något högre enligt kategorierna fascination, att vara borta, sannolikhet för återhämtning och preferens. / In conjunction with urban densification, the proportion of greenery per inhabitant decreases, requiring cities to plan for environments with greenery promoting mental recovery and other ecosystem services. Based on the fact that Malmö is one of the cities in Sweden with the least greenery per inhabitant, and that squares are potential public spaces to increase greenery, the following study contains an analysis of Nobeltorget and Masttorget with focus on greenery and mental recovery. The purpose of the study has been to analyze how two squares, recently built or rebuilt, are designed based on the goal of achieving increased greenness in the city.The study consists of two separate studies, where the results have been used for analyzing the goals formulated in the Malmö City Green Plan (Grönplan) and General Plan (Översiktsplan). The planning tool Biotope Area Factor has been used as a tool for creating qualitative values ​​by quantitatively calculating the proportion of greenery on the squares. A survey has been designed with Perceived Restoration Scale, to investigate the experience of Nobeltorget and Masttorget by valuation based on photographs of the squares. The result of the field study shows that the proportion of greenery differs significantly between the squares, where Nobeltorget has more greenery in relation to the total area, compared to Masttorget. The results of the survey showed minor differences in the experience of the squares, where Nobeltorget was evaluated slightly higher according to fascination, being away, restoration likelihood and preference.

The diploma thesis is based on research findings that the natural environment can help restore depleted emotional and cognitive resources. Theoretical part summarizes the results of research studies in this area and provides a sufficient number of studies which have confirmed the above mentioned phenomenon. In the empirical part I am devoted to ascertaining whether the picture of environment can have restorative effect on cognitive and emotional resources, and compare the effects of three different outdoor environments. The research was conducted by experiment, respondents were exposed to visual stimulus material with motives of natural environment, park or urban environment and then was measured their attention and mood.

It has been observed in the past few years that a large number of migrants have arrived in Europe. The number of international students who come to Sweden each year is one of the most overlooked groups of immigrants. The immigrant students are experiencing difficulties in their health and wellbeing due to new country settlement challenges.Therefore, this study examines the relationship between immigrant students and their natural environments, focusing in particular on their wellbeing. In order to achieve this objective, a qualitative study of 11 semi structured interviews are conducted on two south Asian groups of immigrants studying in Gothenburg, Sweden.This study investigates how immigrant students cope with challenges in the host country by utilizing natural places. It also investigates how they can improve their psychological and emotional wellbeing by interacting with nature using biophilia and attention restoration theories.There are three primary domains in which immigrant students can establish meaningful relationships with nature and enhance their holistic wellbeing, according to the findings of this study. First, they can embrace nature by spending time in natural places every day. Second, they can participate in nature-based recreation that strengthens their connection with nature, helps them get ready for the challenges of living in a new country, and makes them feel healthy overall. Third, the bond they build with nature through daily interactions and outdoor recreation can improve their psychological and emotional wellbeing.