Moving beyond green: exploring the relationship of environment type and indicators of perceived environmental quality on emotional well-being following group walks

Abstract
Against the backdrop of increasing interest in the relationship between nature and health, this study examined the effect of environment type and indicators of perceived environmental quality on short-term emotional well-being following outdoor group walks. Participants (n = 127) of a national group walk program completed pre- and post-walk questionnaires for each walk attended (n = 1,009) within a 13-week study period. Analysis controlled for walk duration and perceived intensity. Results found perceived restorativeness and perceived walk intensity both increased greater positive affect and happiness. Perceived restorativeness was associated with less negative affect. Perceived restorativeness and naturalness interacted to enhance positive affect. Perceived bird biodiversity was a predictor of negative affect. Environment type and walk duration were nonsignificant predictors. Greater benefits to short-term emotional well-being were identified for participants who perceived themselves to walk in a more restorative environment, and with greater physical intensity. Perceived restorativeness and naturalness work together to amplify the benefits of post-walk positive affect. These findings support claims for the restorative effects of nature, highlight the need to control for effects of physical activity in nature and health research, and suggest the importance of further research on the contribution of environment type and quality on well-being.
Year
2015
Category
Refereed journal
Output Tags
WP8.3 - Understanding the linkages between rural and urban areas