Ben Wheeler Research Fellow Research Areas ECEHH research considers both the positive consequences and threats posed by interacting with our environment both anthropogenic and natural ID: 565494
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Slide1
Researching natural and physical environments for wellbeing
Ben Wheeler
Research FellowSlide2
Research Areas
ECEHH research considers both the
positive consequences and threats posed by interacting with our
environment, both
anthropogenic
and natural
Interdisciplinary
– psychology, epidemiology, geography,
sociology,
policy
,
economics, ecology
,
microbiology…Slide3
Health and Wellbeing from Natural Environments
Not a new concept
Gardens of Egyptian nobility
Walled gardens of Mesopotamia
Solvitur
Ambulando
(“it is solved by walking”
)
Images: British Museum and www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylon Slide4
Tradition continued into modern times
Urban parks in the 19
th
Century developed for the health and happiness of urbanites. (Public Health Act 1875)
Federick
Law Olmstead in the 19
th
C said the benefits of nature ‘operate by unconscious processes to relax and relieve tensions created by the artificial surroundings of urban life’
Nature…
‘by the variety of its landscapes wins melancholics from their single obsession by taking them away from the cause and the memory of their sufferings’ (Foucault, quoted in Curtin 2009)Crossley Sanatorium: Image from www.mscch.org/index.php Slide5
Evidence
Salutogenic Nature
Evidence has been accumulating – especially on ‘greenspace’ (generically)
But still lots of it is at early stages, low quality or designs lacking inferential power
Image: Forestry
CommissionSlide6
Evidence
Ulrich, 1984. Science.Slide7
Evidence
Fortescue
-Fox & Lloyd, 1938. Lancet.Slide8
Evidence
Korpela et al, 2010, Health
Promot Int,
25(2), 200-209.Slide9
Evidence
Mitchell, 2012. Social Science & MedicineSlide10
Nature, health and wellbeing
Proposed mechanisms
opportunities for physical activity
stress
reduction/attention
restorationincreased sense of place/place identity, neighbourhood satisfaction
social interactionNB: Louv’s ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ (?)Slide11
Key wellbeing
activities & staff at ECEHH
1.
Monetary
valuation
of wellbeing - Tim Taylor
2. Development of international wellbeing indicators/index/data - BUPA funded project - Mike Depledge, Mat White (with Fiona Adshead
)3. Wellbeing measures in secondary data sources - Ben Wheeler, Mat White, Clive Sabel4.
High
spatial/temporal resolution measurement
of individual wellbeing and environmental conditions/perceptions (UoE Open Innovation funded pilot) - Sahran Higgins, Becca Lovell, Ben Wheeler, Mike Depledge5. Workplace health and wellbeing – Jane Abraham, Julie Pepper, Lora FlemingSlide12
6
. Wellbeing
measures – individual/household/family (Mat White, Ian Alcock)
7
. URGENCHE
project – assessment of the overall risks and benefits of alternative greenhouse gas emission reduction policies for health and well-being
in China and Europe. FP7 project led by Clive Sabel.8. Mapping wellbeing for small areas across the UK using data from ONS survey (Clive Sabel, Ben Wheeler).
9. Biodiversity, ecosystem services and wellbeing – Mike Depledge, Ben Wheeler, Becca Lovell, Sahran Higgins, Mat White, Tim Taylor
10. Various
PhD projects
investigating natural environment-wellbeing relationships
Key wellbeing activities & staff at ECEHHSlide13Slide14
Wheeler, White, Stahl-Timmins & Depledge. 2012. Health & Place.Slide15
Blue Space & perceived
restorativeness
Showed people 120 images: Built, Green, Blue
Primary Prop. (≈2/3rds)
Aquatic
Green
Built
Secondary Prop. (≈1/3rd)
Aquatic
Green
Built
Aquatic
Green
Built
Aquatic
Green
Built
Total
Scene only
8
4
4
4
8
4
4
4
8
48
+ Animal/s
4
2
2
2
4
2
2
2
4
24
+ Person/s
4
2
2
2
4
2
2
2
4
24
+ Object/s
4
2
2
2
4
2
2
2
424Total201010102010101020 120
White, M.P., Smith, A., Humphryes, K., Pahl, S., Snelling, D. & Depledge, M. (2010) Blue space: The importance of water for preference, affect and
restorativeness
ratings of natural and built scenes.
Journal of Environmental Psychology.
3/3rds Green
2/3rds Green
2/3rds Blue
3/3rds Blue
5 items from the Perceived
Restorativeness
Scale, e.g. “
That is a place which is away from everyday demands and where I would be able to relax and think about what interests me
”Slide16
Perceived
restorativeness
How good is this place for helping you feel better and think clearer?
Means with
standard errors
White, M.P., Smith, A., Humphryes, K., Pahl, S., Snelling, D. & Depledge, M. (2010) Blue space: The importance of water for preference, affect and
restorativeness
ratings of natural and built scenes.
Journal of Environmental Psychology.
Bluespace
& perceived
restorativenessSlide17
Systematic Review
11 trials (6 on young students)
Most showed some improvement in one or more mental wellbeing measures
But studies highly heterogeneous, and some significant quality limitationsSlide18
Measures
Scales – GHQ, WEMWBS
etc
Health outcome measures
QoL
measures
Ecological
Momentary Assessment (EMA)
How happy/relaxed/sad etc. do you feel
right now?
(
mappiness
, George
McKerron
)
Day Reconstruction Method (DRM,
Kahneman
)
How happy/relaxed/sad
etc
do you feel during different activities YESTERDAY +
DURATION
Daniel KahnemanSlide19
Relatively Unpleasurable
Relatively Pleasurable
(
z-scores)
Relatively Unrewarding
Relatively Rewarding
(
z-scores)
Fun & rewarding
Rewarding but not fun
Fun but not rewarding
Not fun or rewarding
White & Dolan (2009)Slide20
Volunteering
Pray/ Meditate
Time with Children
Cook
Exercise
Enjoying nature
Socialise
Read/internet
TV
Rest/relax
Work
Housework
Listen to music
Commute
Self-care
Sex
Shopping
Relatively Unpleasurable
Relatively Pleasurable
(
z-scores)
Relatively Unrewarding
Relatively Rewarding
(
z-scores)
Eat
Fun & rewarding
White & Dolan (2009)
Rewarding but not fun
Fun but not rewarding
Not fun or rewardingSlide21
"Money isn't everything. Governments have forgotten this... [We should deliver] the best possible
quality of life.
”
Tony Blair
"
We have to remember what makes people happy, as well as what makes stock markets rise. It’s time we focused not just on GDP, but on
general wellbeing
.”
David Cameron
Dolan, P, Peasgood, T., & White, M.P. (2006).
Review of research on the influences on personal well-being and application to policy making
.
Project Report for DEFRA
.
UK Sustainability Index & “Well-being”Slide22
UK Sustainability Indicators 2010Slide23