Undergraduate college students’ awareness and perception of nature - a photovoice study
Abstract Background There has been limited research on college campus’ green spaces and their benefits to students. This study aimed to identify relationships between a Texas campus’s green spaces and students’ knowledge of their health benefits and their perception of their health compared to the c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17455-0 |
| _version_ | 1797388048173891584 |
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| author | Whitlee Migl Haley Mathis Matthew Spencer Ruby Hernandez Jay E. Maddock |
| author_facet | Whitlee Migl Haley Mathis Matthew Spencer Ruby Hernandez Jay E. Maddock |
| author_sort | Whitlee Migl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There has been limited research on college campus’ green spaces and their benefits to students. This study aimed to identify relationships between a Texas campus’s green spaces and students’ knowledge of their health benefits and their perception of their health compared to the campus’ indoor built environments. Methods Photovoice was utilized to answer this study’s research questions. Participants were instructed to take a photograph inside a building on campus and one outdoors anywhere on campus. Participants answered a questionnaire containing health-related questions, demographics, and nature relationship questions. Additionally, there was an in-class analysis and discussion to characterize overarching themes, knowledge, and evoked emotions. Frequencies, percentages, and a paired t-test were utilized to investigate the hypothesis that through the application of photovoice, participants would display more knowledge of nature’s health benefits and a better perception of areas providing emotional, mental, physical, and social health benefits when in these green spaces compared to the indoor built environments on campus. Results 122 students took photographs and answered the questionnaire. 91 students participated in the in-class discussion. Most students felt more positive (80%) and perceived better health with their outdoor location compared to their indoor. They also responded higher to having more positive overall health benefits (63%) outdoors than indoors. Conclusions These findings further solidified nature improves overall mood, there is a positive relationship between health and nature, and people are aware of it. Future studies should attempt to identify barriers accessing campus green spaces and develop interventions to encourage students to utilize these spaces. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:34:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a6358a2ba7d4147a39877611a7dbab0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:34:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a6358a2ba7d4147a39877611a7dbab02023-12-17T12:32:13ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-12-012311810.1186/s12889-023-17455-0Undergraduate college students’ awareness and perception of nature - a photovoice studyWhitlee Migl0Haley Mathis1Matthew Spencer2Ruby Hernandez3Jay E. Maddock4Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public HealthDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public HealthDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M School of Public HealthDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public HealthDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, Texas A&M School of Public HealthAbstract Background There has been limited research on college campus’ green spaces and their benefits to students. This study aimed to identify relationships between a Texas campus’s green spaces and students’ knowledge of their health benefits and their perception of their health compared to the campus’ indoor built environments. Methods Photovoice was utilized to answer this study’s research questions. Participants were instructed to take a photograph inside a building on campus and one outdoors anywhere on campus. Participants answered a questionnaire containing health-related questions, demographics, and nature relationship questions. Additionally, there was an in-class analysis and discussion to characterize overarching themes, knowledge, and evoked emotions. Frequencies, percentages, and a paired t-test were utilized to investigate the hypothesis that through the application of photovoice, participants would display more knowledge of nature’s health benefits and a better perception of areas providing emotional, mental, physical, and social health benefits when in these green spaces compared to the indoor built environments on campus. Results 122 students took photographs and answered the questionnaire. 91 students participated in the in-class discussion. Most students felt more positive (80%) and perceived better health with their outdoor location compared to their indoor. They also responded higher to having more positive overall health benefits (63%) outdoors than indoors. Conclusions These findings further solidified nature improves overall mood, there is a positive relationship between health and nature, and people are aware of it. Future studies should attempt to identify barriers accessing campus green spaces and develop interventions to encourage students to utilize these spaces.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17455-0PhotovoiceNatureOutdoorHealthPerceptionKnowledge |
| spellingShingle | Whitlee Migl Haley Mathis Matthew Spencer Ruby Hernandez Jay E. Maddock Undergraduate college students’ awareness and perception of nature - a photovoice study BMC Public Health Photovoice Nature Outdoor Health Perception Knowledge |
| title | Undergraduate college students’ awareness and perception of nature - a photovoice study |
| title_full | Undergraduate college students’ awareness and perception of nature - a photovoice study |
| title_fullStr | Undergraduate college students’ awareness and perception of nature - a photovoice study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Undergraduate college students’ awareness and perception of nature - a photovoice study |
| title_short | Undergraduate college students’ awareness and perception of nature - a photovoice study |
| title_sort | undergraduate college students awareness and perception of nature a photovoice study |
| topic | Photovoice Nature Outdoor Health Perception Knowledge |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17455-0 |
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