Restorative outcomes of walking in different urban settings

Bornioli, Anna

Abstract

A recent “affective turn” in the social sciences has given new emphasis to the role of affect and emotions in influencing human behaviours (Damasio 2006). According to extensive research, walking in some settings can promote positive affect, including contribution to restoration from stress. While the benefits of walking in green spaces are widely studied in the literature, there is a lack of research on the positive outcomes of walking in attractive urban settings, and this study aims to further contribute to this emerging theme. Building on studies on the restorative benefits of physical activity, the research hypothesises is that walking in attractive heritage environments can promote positive affect, with subsequent effects on well-being as well as more obvious positive effects on physical health. This paper presents initial findings of the first phase of a PhD research project involving an online experiment with residents of Bristol within the UK. The first study examines affective appraisals in urban settings with different setting type (heritage and non-heritage) and traffic levels (pedestrianised and non-pedestrianised/with traffic), presented to participants as videos of recoded walks in such settings.
This research is proposing a novel focus on the affective aspects of walking and their measurements. It brings together research from environmental psychology, mobilities and heritage studies in order to inform policies of active travel promotion and pedestrianisation within urbanised settings such as major towns and cities.

Citation

Bornioli, A. (2016, June). Restorative outcomes of walking in different urban settings. Paper presented at IAPS International Association People-Places Young Researchers Workshop

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: IAPS International Association People-Places Young Researchers Workshop
• Start Date: Jun 26, 2016
• End Date: Jun 27, 2016
• Acceptance Date: Jun 26, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: restorativeness, walking, urban environments
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : IAPS International Association People-Places Young Researchers Workshop