The varied restorative values of campus landscapes to students’ well-being: evidence from a Chinese University
Abstract Background The literature on therapeutic landscapes highlights that the university campus landscape has restorative effects on students. This deserves more scholarly attention since mental health has become an important issue among university students. However, existing empirical studies ha...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17952-w |
| _version_ | 1797272948917141504 |
|---|---|
| author | Xuanyi Nie Yifei Wang Chan Zhang Yu Zhao Niall Kirkwood |
| author_facet | Xuanyi Nie Yifei Wang Chan Zhang Yu Zhao Niall Kirkwood |
| author_sort | Xuanyi Nie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The literature on therapeutic landscapes highlights that the university campus landscape has restorative effects on students. This deserves more scholarly attention since mental health has become an important issue among university students. However, existing empirical studies have revealed mixed evidence with little attention to the heterogeneity across the design and, therefore, the potential therapeutic effects across different landscapes. Method This research examined how 13 landscape sites on a university campus might be differentially related to student well-being. These sites were identified from a variety of sources (campus design documents, photos used in the university’s social media posts, and interviews with a small group of students) to represent a comprehensive list of places that students might visit. The data was collected in a large online survey of a Chinese university (n = 2,528). We asked about students’ use of individual landscape sites and the associated motivations for visits, and measured well-being using a perceived stress scale and overall evaluation of the happiness level. Bivariate analysis was used to explore the zero-order associations between landscape use and well-being. OLS (for stress) and logistic regressions (for happiness) were conducted to further evaluate the associations after controlling the student background variables and potential correlations of uses across different landscapes. Results Among 13 landscape sites, four sites had significant positive associations with either or both measures of well-being after controlling for the student characteristics and use of the other landscape sites. There was also an additive benefit of visiting more landscapes. Compared to those who did not frequently visit any of the sites, well-being had a significant stepwise increase among those who frequently visited one or two and more sites. One site that was significantly related to both measures of well-being only offered distant views of landscapes, but it was right next to the study areas. Conclusions This study demonstrates the heterogeneity of restorative effects across different landscapes on campus. The findings suggest that effective landscape design that aims to promote student well-being should be placed close to stressors (i.e., where they study), and between where they study and live to offer students opportunities to break from the common routines and to relax. The findings hold greater relevance for universities in China and institutions with similar student campus lifestyles, occupancies, and behavior patterns worldwide. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29d4a9c1a28e49e8ae90d3356c6e9ddf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-29d4a9c1a28e49e8ae90d3356c6e9ddf2024-03-05T20:35:22ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-02-0124111410.1186/s12889-024-17952-wThe varied restorative values of campus landscapes to students’ well-being: evidence from a Chinese UniversityXuanyi Nie0Yifei Wang1Chan Zhang2Yu Zhao3Niall Kirkwood4Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Architecture and Planning, University at BuffaloScenesLabCollege of Media and International Culture, Zhejiang UniversityCollege of Media and International Culture, Zhejiang UniversityHarvard University Graduate School of DesignAbstract Background The literature on therapeutic landscapes highlights that the university campus landscape has restorative effects on students. This deserves more scholarly attention since mental health has become an important issue among university students. However, existing empirical studies have revealed mixed evidence with little attention to the heterogeneity across the design and, therefore, the potential therapeutic effects across different landscapes. Method This research examined how 13 landscape sites on a university campus might be differentially related to student well-being. These sites were identified from a variety of sources (campus design documents, photos used in the university’s social media posts, and interviews with a small group of students) to represent a comprehensive list of places that students might visit. The data was collected in a large online survey of a Chinese university (n = 2,528). We asked about students’ use of individual landscape sites and the associated motivations for visits, and measured well-being using a perceived stress scale and overall evaluation of the happiness level. Bivariate analysis was used to explore the zero-order associations between landscape use and well-being. OLS (for stress) and logistic regressions (for happiness) were conducted to further evaluate the associations after controlling the student background variables and potential correlations of uses across different landscapes. Results Among 13 landscape sites, four sites had significant positive associations with either or both measures of well-being after controlling for the student characteristics and use of the other landscape sites. There was also an additive benefit of visiting more landscapes. Compared to those who did not frequently visit any of the sites, well-being had a significant stepwise increase among those who frequently visited one or two and more sites. One site that was significantly related to both measures of well-being only offered distant views of landscapes, but it was right next to the study areas. Conclusions This study demonstrates the heterogeneity of restorative effects across different landscapes on campus. The findings suggest that effective landscape design that aims to promote student well-being should be placed close to stressors (i.e., where they study), and between where they study and live to offer students opportunities to break from the common routines and to relax. The findings hold greater relevance for universities in China and institutions with similar student campus lifestyles, occupancies, and behavior patterns worldwide.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17952-wLandscapeRestorative effectsWell-beingStudentUniversity campus |
| spellingShingle | Xuanyi Nie Yifei Wang Chan Zhang Yu Zhao Niall Kirkwood The varied restorative values of campus landscapes to students’ well-being: evidence from a Chinese University BMC Public Health Landscape Restorative effects Well-being Student University campus |
| title | The varied restorative values of campus landscapes to students’ well-being: evidence from a Chinese University |
| title_full | The varied restorative values of campus landscapes to students’ well-being: evidence from a Chinese University |
| title_fullStr | The varied restorative values of campus landscapes to students’ well-being: evidence from a Chinese University |
| title_full_unstemmed | The varied restorative values of campus landscapes to students’ well-being: evidence from a Chinese University |
| title_short | The varied restorative values of campus landscapes to students’ well-being: evidence from a Chinese University |
| title_sort | varied restorative values of campus landscapes to students well being evidence from a chinese university |
| topic | Landscape Restorative effects Well-being Student University campus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17952-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xuanyinie thevariedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity AT yifeiwang thevariedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity AT chanzhang thevariedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity AT yuzhao thevariedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity AT niallkirkwood thevariedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity AT xuanyinie variedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity AT yifeiwang variedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity AT chanzhang variedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity AT yuzhao variedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity AT niallkirkwood variedrestorativevaluesofcampuslandscapestostudentswellbeingevidencefromachineseuniversity |