IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v13y2024i9p1536-d1483037.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Exploring Multi-Sensory Approaches for Psychological Well-Being in Urban Green Spaces: Evidence from Edinburgh’s Diverse Urban Environments

Author

Listed:
  • Siruo Qu

    (Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, 74 Lauriston Pl, Edinburgh EH3 9DF, UK)

  • Ruochen Ma

    (Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, Chiba 271-8510, Japan)

Abstract

Urban green spaces are crucial for alleviating psychological stress, but the effect of multi-sensory experiences on psychological restoration remains underexplored. This study, conducted in Edinburgh, Scotland, with 40 participants, compares the effects of walking and sitting in different urban environments—built environments, semi-natural green spaces, and natural green spaces—on psychological restoration. The results reveal that while sensory quality positively correlates with psychological well-being, sensory perception and variety do not always have a positive effect on restoration. Moreover, supplementing visual and hearing experiences with tactility and smell in urban green spaces is more effective in reducing stress and enhancing overall well-being, particularly in terms of vitality, which is largely affected by non-visual sensory inputs. This study highlights the importance of creating balanced sensory environments in urban green spaces, integrating a variety of sensory experiences to maximize psychological benefits. These findings provide valuable insights for urban planners and designers aiming to optimize green spaces for enhanced mental health and overall quality of life.

Suggested Citation

  • Siruo Qu & Ruochen Ma, 2024. "Exploring Multi-Sensory Approaches for Psychological Well-Being in Urban Green Spaces: Evidence from Edinburgh’s Diverse Urban Environments," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:9:p:1536-:d:1483037
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/9/1536/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/9/1536/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Terence Bostic & Doris McGartland Rubio & Mark Hood, 2000. "A Validation of the Subjective Vitality Scale Using Structural Equation Modeling," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 313-324, December.
    2. Shixian Luo & Jing Xie & Huixin Wang & Qian Wang & Jie Chen & Zhenglun Yang & Katsunori Furuya, 2023. "Natural Dose of Blue Restoration: A Field Experiment on Mental Restoration of Urban Blue Spaces," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Kaili Chen & Tianzheng Zhang & Fangyuan Liu & Yingjie Zhang & Yan Song, 2021. "How Does Urban Green Space Impact Residents’ Mental Health: A Literature Review of Mediators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-27, November.
    4. Prita Indah Pratiwi & Qiongying Xiang & Katsunori Furuya, 2020. "Physiological and Psychological Effects of Walking in Urban Parks and Its Imagery in Different Seasons in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Evidence from Matsudo City, Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-25, May.
    5. Peter A. Coventry & Chris Neale & Alison Dyke & Rachel Pateman & Steve Cinderby, 2019. "The Mental Health Benefits of Purposeful Activities in Public Green Spaces in Urban and Semi-Urban Neighbourhoods: A Mixed-Methods Pilot and Proof of Concept Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-16, July.
    6. Lara S. Franco & Danielle F. Shanahan & Richard A. Fuller, 2017. "A Review of the Benefits of Nature Experiences: More Than Meets the Eye," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-29, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Adriano Bressane & Maria Eduarda Guedes Ferreira & Ana Júlia da Silva Garcia & Líliam César de Castro Medeiros, 2024. "Is Having Urban Green Space in the Neighborhood Enough to Make a Difference? Insights for Healthier City Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Qiang Wen & Haiqiang Liu & Jinyuan Chen & Huiyao Ye & Zeyu Pan, 2023. "Evaluation of Satisfaction with the Built Environment of University Buildings under the Epidemic and Its Impact on Student Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-23, February.
    3. Leah Ferguson & Kent Kowalski & Diane Mack & Catherine Sabiston, 2015. "Self-compassion and Eudaimonic Well-Being During Emotionally Difficult Times in Sport," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 16(5), pages 1263-1280, October.
    4. Tongfei Jin & Jiayi Lu & Yuhan Shao, 2024. "Exploring the Impact of Visual and Aural Elements in Urban Parks on Human Behavior and Emotional Responses," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Bum-Jin Park & Juyoung Lee & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Psychological Benefits of Walking through Forest Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-10, December.
    6. Yonatal Tefera & Veronica Soebarto & Courtney Bishop & John Kandulu & Carmel Williams, 2023. "A Scoping Review of Urban Planning Decision Support Tools and Processes That Account for the Health, Environment, and Economic Benefits of Trees and Greenspace," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(1), pages 1-28, December.
    7. Lissy Fehnker & Diane Pearson & Peter Howland, 2022. "Informing Future Land Systems Using Self-Reported Pathways and Barriers to Connections to Nature: A Case Study in Auckland, New Zealand," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, October.
    8. Rachel R. Y. Oh & Kelly S. Fielding & Chia-Chen Chang & Le T. P. Nghiem & Claudia L. Y. Tan & Shimona A. Quazi & Danielle F. Shanahan & Kevin J. Gaston & Roman L. Carrasco & Richard A. Fuller, 2021. "Health and Wellbeing Benefits from Nature Experiences in Tropical Settings Depend on Strength of Connection to Nature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-16, September.
    9. Awoyemi, Adewale G. & Ibáñez-Rueda, Nazaret & Guardiola, Jorge & Ibáñez-Álamo, Juan Diego, 2024. "Human-nature interactions in the Afrotropics: Experiential and cognitive connections among urban residents in southern Nigeria," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    10. Mònica Guillen-Royo, 2018. "Sustainable consumption and wellbeing: does on-line shopping matter?," Working Papers on Innovation Studies 20181022, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo.
    11. Angel M. Dzhambov & Peter Lercher & Drozdstoy Stoyanov & Nadezhda Petrova & Stoyan Novakov & Donka D. Dimitrova, 2021. "University Students’ Self-Rated Health in Relation to Perceived Acoustic Environment during the COVID-19 Home Quarantine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-21, March.
    12. Leah J. Ferguson & Margo E. K. Adam & Katie E. Gunnell & Kent C. Kowalski & Diane E. Mack & Amber D. Mosewich & Noreen Murphy, 2022. "Self-Compassion or Self-Criticism? Predicting Women Athletes’ Psychological Flourishing in Sport in Canada," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 1923-1939, June.
    13. Po Lam Ho & Tsz Wai Li & Huinan Liu & Tsun Fung Yeung & Wai Kai Hou, 2022. "Testing a New Protocol of Nature-Based Intervention to Enhance Well-Being: A Randomized Control Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-14, March.
    14. Ayman Imam & Eradah O. Hamad, 2023. "Tweets of Transformation: Investigating Tactical Urbanism and Social Interactions in Jeddah’s Colorful Corniche Initiative," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-19, September.
    15. Rikuto Yamashita & Chong Chen & Toshio Matsubara & Kosuke Hagiwara & Masato Inamura & Kohei Aga & Masako Hirotsu & Tomoe Seki & Akiyo Takao & Erika Nakagawa & Ayumi Kobayashi & Yuko Fujii & Keiko Hira, 2021. "The Mood-Improving Effect of Viewing Images of Nature and Its Neural Substrate," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-11, May.
    16. Tonya Dodge & Sruthi Vaylay & Jonah Kracke-Bock, 2022. "Subjective Vitality: A Benefit of Self-Directed, Leisure Time Physical Activity," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 2903-2922, August.
    17. Elizabeth P.D. Koselka & Lucy C. Weidner & Arseniy Minasov & Marc G. Berman & William R. Leonard & Marianne V. Santoso & Junia N. de Brito & Zachary C. Pope & Mark A. Pereira & Teresa H. Horton, 2019. "Walking Green: Developing an Evidence Base for Nature Prescriptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-18, November.
    18. Anna Staniewska, 2022. "Gardens of Historic Mental Health Hospitals and Their Potential Use for Green Therapy Purposes," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-23, September.
    19. Tobias Ihle & Ellen Jahr & Dörte Martens & Holger Muehlan & Silke Schmidt, 2024. "Health Effects of Participation in Creating Urban Green Spaces—A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-26, June.
    20. Veronika Huta & Lance Hawley, 2010. "Psychological Strengths and Cognitive Vulnerabilities: Are They Two Ends of the Same Continuum or Do They Have Independent Relationships with Well-being and Ill-being?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 71-93, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:9:p:1536-:d:1483037. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.