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Going beyond Quietness: Determining the Emotionally Restorative Effect of Acoustic Environments in Urban Open Public Spaces

Author

Listed:
  • Karmele Herranz-Pascual

    (TECNALIA Research and Innovation, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Calle Geldo, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain)

  • Itziar Aspuru

    (TECNALIA Research and Innovation, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Calle Geldo, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain)

  • Ioseba Iraurgi

    (DeustoPsych, University of Deusto, Unibertsitate Etorb. 24, 48007 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain)

  • Álvaro Santander

    (TECNALIA Research and Innovation, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Calle Geldo, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain)

  • Jose Luis Eguiguren

    (TECNALIA Research and Innovation, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Calle Geldo, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain)

  • Igone García

    (TECNALIA Research and Innovation, Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Calle Geldo, Edificio 700, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain)

Abstract

The capacity of natural settings to promote psychological restoration has attracted increasing research attention, especially with regards to the visual dimension. However, there is a need to extend these studies to urban settings, such as squares, parks or gardens, due to the global trend towards urbanisation, and to integrate the dimension of sound into landscape. Such was the main aim of this study, in which 53 participants assessed four public spaces in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) as part of the CITI-SENSE Project (137 observations were used for analysis). A smartphone application was used to simultaneously collect objective and subjective data. The results show that at the end of the urban environmental experience, there was a statistically significant reduction in negative emotions and perceived stress, and a slight increase in positive emotions. Emotional restoration was mainly associated with prior emotional states, but also with global environmental comfort and acoustic comfort. The soundscape characteristics that contributed to greater emotional restoration and a reduction in perceived stress were pleasantness, calm, fun and naturalness. Therefore, in agreement with previous research, the findings of the present study indicate that besides contributing to the quietness of the urban environment, the urban soundscape can promote psychological restoration in users of these spaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Karmele Herranz-Pascual & Itziar Aspuru & Ioseba Iraurgi & Álvaro Santander & Jose Luis Eguiguren & Igone García, 2019. "Going beyond Quietness: Determining the Emotionally Restorative Effect of Acoustic Environments in Urban Open Public Spaces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-20, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:7:p:1284-:d:221517
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Giovanni Brambilla & Veronica Gallo & Giovanni Zambon, 2013. "The Soundscape Quality in Some Urban Parks in Milan, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-22, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tianyao Zhang & Jiahui Liu & Hongyang Li, 2019. "Restorative Effects of Multi-Sensory Perception in Urban Green Space: A Case Study of Urban Park in Guangzhou, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Francesco Aletta & Jian Kang, 2019. "Promoting Healthy and Supportive Acoustic Environments: Going beyond the Quietness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-4, December.
    3. Shilun Zhang & Xiaolong Zhao & Zixi Zeng & Xuan Qiu, 2019. "The Influence of Audio-Visual Interactions on Psychological Responses of Young People in Urban Green Areas: A Case Study in Two Parks in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Yiting Zhu & Xueru Pang & Chunshan Zhou, 2023. "Key Area Recognition and Evaluation of Audio-Visual Landscape for Global Geoparks: A Case Study of Koktokay in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Yue Du & Zan Zou & Yaodong He & Yongge Zhou & Shixian Luo, 2022. "Beyond Blue and Green Spaces: Identifying and Characterizing Restorative Environments on Sichuan Technology and Business University Campus," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-17, October.
    6. Phi-Yen Nguyen & Thomas Astell-Burt & Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-38, October.

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