From restorative environments to restoration in work

Abstract

This is an illustrative review on studies revealing the restorative, that is, stress-reducing, effects of natural settings. We focus on the effects of viewing or being physically active in the natural setting and the effects of indoor plants and window views on restoration and recovery. These themes represent interesting and potentially fruitful areas for future studies that combine work and environmental psychological aspects. There is conceptual similarity between recovery experiences and processes of perceived restorativeness. Increasing evidence shows that outdoor natural environments are more efficient in producing restoration than outdoor built environments. Anecdotal evidence shows that window views to natural elements buffer the negative impact of job stress on intention to quit; the more natural elements, the less the negative impact of job stress on turnover intentions. A laboratory study recording brainwaves and blood volume pulse has indicated that people are less nervous or anxious when looking at the window view to nature compared with the window view to the city or no window view. Also the amount of outdoor nature contact during breaks at work seems to be associated with less perceived stress and better self-rated health. Research has showed that plants in the office room seem to enhance the solution of creative tasks, but deteriorate simple, proofreading or sorting tasks which require continuous concentration to the task. Some practical recommendations can be made on the basis of current evidence, but more rigorous experimental and intervention studies are needed.

Keywords:

• environment and behaviour
• green building
• offices
• plants

Funding

This study is supported by the Academy of Finland [grant no. 257682] in a research project ‘Recovery from Work Stress: Integrating Perspectives of Work and Environmental Psychology’.