Sumeyye Cakal , Tugce Conger , Patrick Mooney , Jiaying Zhao

Sumeyye
1,2
Cakal ,
Tugce
3
Conger ,
Patrick
4
Mooney ,
Jiaying
1,3
Zhao
1Deparment
of Psychology, 2Department of Geography, 3Institute for Resources,
Environment and Sustainability, 4School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture
The University of British Columbia
UK Annual Population
Survey 2011 - 2012
Introduction
The immediate physical environment has
beneficial influences on cognition and health
(Alcock et al., 2014; Berman et al., 2008; Kaplan, 1992)
Present study
4
Which environmental features causally impact
subjective well-being?
3
How does well-being change over
geographically proximate locations?
27.8%
compliance
2
Methods
Study 1
80 students randomly
assigned to each of the 4
locations along University
Boulevard on UBC campus
Study 2
208 pedestrians surveyed at
the 4 locations
35.5%
compliance
Study 3
50.5%
compliance
Mean ratings in
each location
36.7%
compliance
1
29.32
30
27.85
Study 1
Location 1 was rated as reliably more pleasant than
Location 4 [F(3,76)=24.80, p<.001]
26.05
17.70
Study 2 replicated the findings in Study 1
Green space [B=2.14, p=.03] and water
[B=2.28, p=.02] reliably predicted
well-being, while controlling for income,
education, health, and population
16.37
Discussion
12.95
10
5
-2.19
12.21
-0.35
0
Green space and water can improve
subjective well-being across
geographically proximate locations
2.90
3.05
-5
The environment ratings reliably predicted happiness
[B=.03, p<.05], positive affect [B=.23, p<.01], and
negative affect [B= -.15, p<.01]
Calculated green spaces and water area
in each district using Google map
Positive Affect
Negative Affect
Happiness
Environment
20.70 17.67
20
Results
26.25
25
15
Well-being data from 3,663 districts in UK
3.15
4
3.16
3
2
These features should be considered
when designing urban spaces
References
Alcock et al., (2014). Longitudinal Effects on Mental Health of Moving to Greener and Less Green Urban Areas.
Environmental science & technology, 48, 1247-1255.
1
Berman et al., (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science, 19, 1207-1212.
Kaplan, S. (1992). The restorative environment: Nature and human experience. In E. Diane (Ed.), The role of
horticulture in human well-being and social development (pp. 134-142).