Research on restorative environments has showed the healthy outcomes of nature experience, though often by comparing attractive natural to unattractive built environments. Some studies indeed showed the restorative value of artistic/historical settings. In a quasi-experimental study involving 125 participants in Rome, Italy, a natural and a built/historical environment, both scoring high in restorative properties, were evaluated in a natural, built/historical, or neutral setting. In accordance with the Biophilia hypothesis and the Attention Restoration Theory (ART), we hypothesized: a higher restorative potential of nature also when compared to built/historical environments; a moderation effect of on-site experience on perceived restorative potential (PRP) of both environmental typologies; higher levels of restorative properties of the environment for on-site vs. not on-site respondents; and a mediation effect of the restorative properties of the environment in the relationship between time spent on-site and PRP. Results supported the hypotheses. In addition, different psychological processes leading to restoration emerged for the natural and the built/historical environment. Theoretical implications for ART and practical applications for an integrative urban design with natural and historical elements are discussed.

Is it really nature that restores people? A comparison with historical sites with high restorative potential / Scopelliti, M.; Carrus, G.; Bonaiuto, M.. - In: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY. - ISSN 1664-1078. - 9:JAN(2019). [10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02742]

Is it really nature that restores people? A comparison with historical sites with high restorative potential

Bonaiuto M.
2019

Abstract

Research on restorative environments has showed the healthy outcomes of nature experience, though often by comparing attractive natural to unattractive built environments. Some studies indeed showed the restorative value of artistic/historical settings. In a quasi-experimental study involving 125 participants in Rome, Italy, a natural and a built/historical environment, both scoring high in restorative properties, were evaluated in a natural, built/historical, or neutral setting. In accordance with the Biophilia hypothesis and the Attention Restoration Theory (ART), we hypothesized: a higher restorative potential of nature also when compared to built/historical environments; a moderation effect of on-site experience on perceived restorative potential (PRP) of both environmental typologies; higher levels of restorative properties of the environment for on-site vs. not on-site respondents; and a mediation effect of the restorative properties of the environment in the relationship between time spent on-site and PRP. Results supported the hypotheses. In addition, different psychological processes leading to restoration emerged for the natural and the built/historical environment. Theoretical implications for ART and practical applications for an integrative urban design with natural and historical elements are discussed.
2019
built/historical environments; nature; on-site experience; restorative environments; well-being
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Is it really nature that restores people? A comparison with historical sites with high restorative potential / Scopelliti, M.; Carrus, G.; Bonaiuto, M.. - In: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY. - ISSN 1664-1078. - 9:JAN(2019). [10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02742]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1290965
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