Abstract

This chapter focuses on the psychological impact that exposure to urban natural environments has on health and well-being. A common way to explain how natural environments contribute towards the beneficial aspects of well-being is Attention Restoration Theory (ART). A plethora of studies compares the effects of exposure to natural environments as opposed to built-up artificial urban settings. Methodological problems also arise in terms of physical accessibility and socio-psychological accessibility. Physical accessibility is determined by attributes such as distance and physical barriers. Socio-psychological accessibility is determined by attributes associated with the observer, where identification of accessible greenspace depends on individual perceptions and awareness of different neighborhoods. Different definitions of greenspace, availability, and access are commonly used in making the link between health and natural environments. The increasing trend of chronic inflammations for urban citizens in high-income urban areas is probably linked to a lack of contact with microbial biodiversity.

Published in

Title: The Routledge Handbook of Urban Ecology
ISBN: 978-1-138-58135-7, eISBN: 978-0-429-50675-8
Publisher: Routledge

SLU Authors

• Ode Sang, Åsa

  • Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Hedblom, Marcus

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Landscape Architecture
Environmental Health and Occupational Health


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429506758-53

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/111790