A multimethod exploration of urban greenspaces and mental well-being: Age differences, virtual simulations, and the impact of crowding

Reece, Rebecca

Abstract

This thesis took a holistic, multimethod approach to the topic of urban greenspaces (UGS) and mental well-being and explored three aspects which were identified as gaps in a narrative literature review, (1) the importance of age (2) the presence of other people in UGS, and (3) new technology such as virtual reality (VR) as a research tool. The first study was qualitative, and explored how properties of UGS could shape the mental well-being of multiple age groups. By conducting semi-structured interviews, similarities were found across ages: UGS are places to escape to, there are practical and accessibility needs, being spaces to share with others, and the importance of seasonal multi-sensory components. Two pilot studies aided in methodological development of a final experimental study. These studies used virtual exposure to different urban and natural environments and measured several well-being outcomes. The first demonstrated the need for a combination of psychological and physiological measures of well-being due to divergent results. The second study supported using multiple measures of well-being and highlighted the benefits of also collecting qualitative data. The study used VR as a research tool, comparing with flat-screen exposure to restorative environments, and found increased levels of immersion with VR exposure. Building on these experimental studies, a final study tested the impact of other people being present in UGS. Results showed that environments with no, or few, people in them were associated with greater stress reduction, greater differences in perceived restorativeness, and greater reductions in diastolic blood pressure, than an environment with lots of people in. Environments with a few or lots of people in them were associated with greater increases in energy and higher social connectedness compared to the environment with no people. The findings indicated a potential trade-off between different dimensions of well-being (restorativeness and social connectedness) in more and less crowded UGS. Effects were more pronounced in middle-to-older aged adults. Policy and practice implications include the need to consider a range of ages in UGS design, and the research adds to methodological knowledge about measuring well-being and the use of VR as a research tool.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Oct 30, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 23, 2025
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13326469
• Award Date: Jun 18, 2025