This study maps research concerning person environment interrelationships with health and wellbeing outcomes. The purpose of this study is to provide insights into the inter-relationship between the built environment (BE) and human health and wellbeing as it is conveyed in research literature. It particularly focuses on literature that connects built environment, emotions, feelings, mind and body. This thesis therefore provides a review of relevant literature on the physical environment, with a focus on person environment (PE) relationship that may influence the person's psychological and physiological systems consequently affecting health and wellbeing. Specifically, psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is used to identify dimensions of the BE which are significant for this study. The understanding of PE interrelationships to health outcomes is achieved by undertaking a transdisciplinary outlook. To conceptualise the 'person' as a whole and the workings of the mind and human system PNI has been recognised as a main platform. PNI is the study of mind-body relationships (Evans, et al, 2000), providing a scientific framework which captures the understanding of the inter-relationship of the mind to the neuroendocrine systems and the immune systems with the aim of understanding the influence of the mind on eliciting as well as preventing illnesses. The work was motivated by the need for better understanding of the human interaction/transaction in an interior environment and their consequences on health. An exploration of literature from both the environmental and health fields provided a knowledge base upon which to develop an understanding of the interrelationship. Research has demonstrated a link between the BE and wellbeing, however, this is limited in its application and/or scope. For example, over the past years there has been an increasing amount of research showing the possible influence of the environment in reducing stress (Sommer & Oslen, 1980; Kaplan, 1983; O'Neill, 1991; Wapner & Demick, 2000; Parsons & Tassinary, 2002, Frumkin, 2006). In addition, there is growing evidence that indicates there is a relationship between BE and health including the psychological and physiological systems, in healthcare environments (Ulrich & Zimring, 2004). However, while there is ample research in the areas of environmental stressors and other determinants of the environment in contributing to health, less research has been undertaken in studying the impact of the environment on health (Evans& McCoy, 1998). The potential of the environment in contributing to the mental wellbeing of a person and how this could affect the physical health therefore needs further investigation (Solomon, 1996). The methodology followed was Coopers (1998) 'research synthesis' and the tool to sort the domains and PE interrelationships was adapted from White's (1989) 'space adjacency analysis'. The scope of this study was limited to explorations of literature that inquired into PE relationships that fit into the primarily established 'integrative systems model'; a parameter that enabled categorisation of the literature into the areas that related to the PNI framework. The findings illustrate that the person is interrelated to the environment in several ways and can be interpreted and explained in terms of various dimensions such as the psychological, physical, social, and spatial dimensions. Furthermore, empirical research indicates that the environment impacts on a person's health and wellbeing through psychological and physiological systems. PNI acknowledges the interrelationship of the mind and body systems contributing to an integrative systems model of human health and wellbeing. As an outcome, the study has produced an analysis method and a navigation map of the various literature domains related to PE interrelationships in terms of health and wellbeing. This has been facilitated by the development of, a 'PE integrative systems model'. Apart from demonstrating the need for transdisciplinary research and contributing to research methodology, the study also adds to the current design knowledge base providing BE professionals and creators with a better understanding of the health outcomes from PE interrelationships.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/265406 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Suresh, Mini |
| Publisher | Queensland University of Technology |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Copyright Mini Suresh |
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