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Exposure to Green and Historic Urban Environments and Mental Well-Being: Results from EEG and Psychometric Outcome Measures

Author

Listed:
  • Rebecca Reece

    (Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK)

  • Anna Bornioli

    (Erasmus Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Isabelle Bray

    (Centre for Public Health and Wellbeing, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK)

  • Chris Alford

    (Psychological Sciences Research Group, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK)

Abstract

Previous studies have identified the benefits of exposure to green or historic environments using qualitative methods and psychometric measures, but studies using a combination of measures are lacking. This study builds on current literature by focusing specifically on green and historic urban environments and using both psychological and physiological measures to investigate the impact of virtual exposure on well-being. Results from the psychological measures showed that the presence of historic elements was associated with a significantly stronger recuperation of hedonic tone ( p = 0.01) and reduction in stress ( p = 0.04). However, the presence of greenness had no significant effect on hedonic tone or stress. In contrast, physiological measures (EEG) showed significantly lower levels of alpha activity ( p < 0.001) in occipital regions of the brain when participants viewed green environments, reflecting increased engagement and visual attention. In conclusion, this study has added to the literature by showing the impact that historic environments can have on well-being, as well as highlighting a lack of concordance between psychological and physiological measures. This supports the use of a combination of subjective and direct objective measures in future research in this field.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Reece & Anna Bornioli & Isabelle Bray & Chris Alford, 2022. "Exposure to Green and Historic Urban Environments and Mental Well-Being: Results from EEG and Psychometric Outcome Measures," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13052-:d:939059
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tian Gao & Tian Zhang & Ling Zhu & Yanan Gao & Ling Qiu, 2019. "Exploring Psychophysiological Restoration and Individual Preference in the Different Environments Based on Virtual Reality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Sus Sola Corazon & Ulrik Sidenius & Dorthe Varning Poulsen & Marie Christoffersen Gramkow & Ulrika Karlsson Stigsdotter, 2019. "Psycho-Physiological Stress Recovery in Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of the Past Eight Years of Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-21, May.
    3. Gert-Jan Vanaken & Marina Danckaerts, 2018. "Impact of Green Space Exposure on Children’s and Adolescents’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Rebecca Reece & Anna Bornioli & Isabelle Bray & Nigel Newbutt & David Satenstein & Chris Alford, 2022. "Exposure to Green, Blue and Historic Environments and Mental Well-Being: A Comparison between Virtual Reality Head-Mounted Display and Flat Screen Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-21, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tytti P. Pasanen & Anna Kajosaari, 2023. "Special Issue: Place, Space, and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-3, March.

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