Psychological Effects Of Built Environment (social)

Question 1

background - green spaces - White et al (2013)

Answer 1

• A long-term study based on an analysis of data from the annual British Household Panel Survey responses from 1991 to 2008.
• allowed researchers to trace self-reported psychological health from over 10,000 participants across an 18 year period.
• researchers found respondents were happier
  when living in urban areas with large amounts of
  green spaces, showing significantly lower mental
  distress levels and higher well-being (life satisfaction) levels.
• the longitudinal approach made it possible for the researchers to control for other impacts on respondents’ lives, such as income, employment status, marital status, health and housing type.

Question 2

cheuk fan Ng (2000)

Answer 2

• researchers found respondents were happier
  when living in urban areas with large amounts of
  green spaces, showing significantly lower mental
  distress levels and higher well-being (life satisfaction) levels.
• the longitudinal approach made it possible for the researchers to control for other impacts on respondents’ lives, such as income, employment status, marital status, health and housing type.

Question 3

what is health

Answer 3

‘Health is the absence of disease’
’A state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing’ (WHO)

Question 4

How we research the relationship between nature and health

Answer 4

• Compare Urban vs Rural areas- Extraneous variables make this difficult
• Induce stress and then place them in an environment to see if they improve- Ethics

Question 5

aim of Ulrich

Answer 5

• Compare recovery rates of patients who had Gall Bladder surgery
• View of tree’s vs view of Brick wall

Question 6

Ulrich method

Answer 6

Records of patients in rooms on the second and third floors of a three-storey wing of the hospital were examined between 1972 and 1981- May and October
This time of year was deliberately used due to the leaves on the trees present during those months.

Question 7

ulrich method - rooms features

Answer 7

rooms identical features
- Same amount of nurses on the ward
- Same size
- 2 beds in each room
- Furniture arrangements
- Same size window and position of window
- The only difference was what could be seen out of the window.

Question 8

Ulrich sample

Answer 8

• Ppts between ages 20 + 69.
• Half of the participants had been assigned to rooms with windows looking out over a natural scene and the other half were in similar rooms, but with a view of a brick wall.
• Both groups were made up of 15 females pairs and 8 males pairs and were also matched on:
• Age
• Weight
• previous hospitalisation
• Smoking status
• Year of Surgery
• floor level
• Room size and colour.

Question 9

DV’s

Answer 9

• Patients’ records were obtained and five key pieces of information were taken:
  1. Number of days in hospital from surgery to discharge
  2. Number and strength of Painkillers each day
  3. Number and strength of anti-anxiety medication
  4. Any minor complications, such as nausea which
  required medication
  5. Nurses’ notes relating to a patient’s condition or course of recovery.

Question 10

categories of results

Answer 10

1. Number of days in hospital from surgery to discharge
2. Number and strength of Painkillers each day
3. Number and strength of anti-anxiety medication
4. Any minor complications, such as nausea which required medication
5. Nurses’ notes relating to a patient’s condition or course of recovery.

Question 11

1. Number of days in hospital from surgery to discharge

Answer 11

Tree Window = 8.7 days

Brick Window = 7.96 days

Question 12

2. Number and strength of Painkillers each day

Answer 12

1- Surgery day and day 1 post surgery
2- Days 2-5 after
3- Days 6-7 after surgery
- Tree view took milder pain killers than Brick view

Question 13

3. Number and strength of anti-anxiety medication

Answer 13

• No significant difference- may be due to painkillers causing drowsiness.

Question 14

4. Any minor complications, such as nausea which required medication

Answer 14

• Tree group had less complications although not statistically significant

Question 15

5. Nurses’ notes relating to a patient’s condition or course of recovery.

Answer 15

• Positive notes = In good spirits, Moving well
• Negative notes = Upset and crying, Needs encouragement
  Tree Window = 1.13 negative notes
  Brick Window = 3.98 negative notes
  > More positive comments for Tree condition but not statistically significant

Question 16

conclusions of Ulrich

Answer 16

• Natural scenes have positive therapeutic influences.
• Patients who can see a natural view from their hospital window have shorter post-operative hospital stays than those with a view of a brick wall.
• Those with a natural view also display more positive behaviours, take fewer moderate and strong analgesics and tend to experience fewer minor postoperative complications than patients who have a featureless view.

Question 17

application 1 = defensible space

Answer 17

• a space percieved as clearly belonging to someone wghich can be made how they like which can then lead to greter feelings of well-being

Question 18

application 2 = walkability

Answer 18

• walking will help improve health and well-being

Question 19

impact of a built environment and urban renewal on our wellbeing