Indoor nature exposure and influence on physiological stress markers

ABSTRACT

Spending time in nature is beneficial for stress reduction and recovery. Using the properties of biophilic design, this study examined the influence of a nature-based indoor environment on physiological stress systems. An experimental study was designed to assess the influence of indoor natural elements on autonomic activity (heart rate variability or HRV), self-reported environmental assessments. No differences in heart rate variability were found between participants assigned to either condition. The room with natural elements was rated more positively than the room without natural elements. Participant preference had more impact on changes in HRV for participants without exposure to natural elements. The results suggest that natural elements in indoor environments may influence the regulation of stress response via environmental preference.

Abbreviations: ANCOVA: Analysis of Covariance; ANS: Autonomic Nervous System; AVNN: Average of NN; DST: Digit Span Test; EAS: Environmental Assessment Scale; ECG: Electrocardiograph; fMRI: Functional magnetic resonance imaging; HF: High Frequency; HRV: Heart Rate Variability; INE: Indoor Nature Exposure; NR: Nature-Relatedness Scale; PANAS: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; SAM: Search and Memory Test; SLSI: Student Life Stress Inventory; SMT: Sentence Making Test

KEYWORDS:

• Indoor nature exposure
• heart rate variability
• environmental preference
• stress response
• biophilic design

Authors Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to the study concept and design. JM was responsible for study management, acquisition of the data and data analysis. JM, SJ and DR interpreted the data analysis. JM developed the initial manuscript and all authors were responsible for revision and the provision of intellectual content.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the students who participated in the study and sincerely appreciate the support of Rachel Shin who assisted with data collection.

Availability of Data and Materials

Physiological and non-demographic data are available on request to the corresponding author.

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Ethics Board at Dalhousie University as Project 2014-3274.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Competing Interests

None declared.