Year: 2007
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The aim of the present dissertation is to create a greater understanding of the importance of \npure experiences of nature for human health. The dissertation consists of five articles and a \nframe story. \nThe first two articles report on an introspective study of my own experiences of the nature \npreviously. The interplay between human beings and the natural environment is described in \ndetail, based on the interaction between the author and strong elements in nature, e.g. stones \nand water. \nThe findings from Article III and IV may be interpreted as follows: \nx Elderly people, in general, recover more quickly from directed attention fatigue after \nhaving rested in a garden than after having rested indoors, as could be measured by \ndifferent tests of concentration. \nx Elderly people with low psycho-physiological balance were most affected by a stay in a garden, as could be measured by changes in heart rate and blood pressure. \nx The study shows, first, that an outdoor visit is important for recovery from stress and fatigue and, second, that the improvement is especially significant for those who are \nmost susceptible. \n \nThe findings from Article V may be interpreted as follows: \nx Experiencing nature seems to have a more powerful influence on the rehabilitation \npotential of people greatly affected by a crisis. \nx Taking a walk also has a significant influence, although not of equal importance. \nx The social factor seems to have more influence on the rehabilitation potential of people affected by a crisis to a low/moderate degree. \nx Having access to nature in everyday life can have a buffering effect on people’s \nmental state. Individuals who have many experiences of nature are less affected by their crisis than are those who have few such experiences. \nThe above results are discussed and interpreted in the frame story by linking them to that stays in sound natural environments function as stays in enriched environments. \nSound natural environments contain certain qualities that mediate an effectual explanatory models of the effects of nature experiences on emotions and recovery \nfrom a crisis. \n
Author: Johan Ottosson
Language: English
Topic: Urban Green Space and Health
Subfield: Urban Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2122679066