Researching natural and physical environments for wellbeing Ben Wheeler Research Fellow

Research Areas ECEHH research considers both the positive consequences and threats posed by interacting with our environment, both anthropogenic and natural Interdisciplinary – psychology, epidemiology, geography, sociology, policy, economics, ecology, microbiology…

Health and Wellbeing from Natural Environments Not a new concept Gardens of Egyptian nobility Walled gardens of Mesopotamia Solvitur Ambulando (“it is solved by walking”) Images: British Museum and

Tradition continued into modern times Urban parks in the 19 th Century developed for the health and happiness of urbanites. (Public Health Act 1875) Federick Law Olmstead in the 19 th C said the benefits of nature ‘operate by unconscious processes to relax and relieve tensions created by the artificial surroundings of urban life’ Nature… ‘by the variety of its landscapes wins melancholics from their single obsession by taking them away from the cause and the memory of their sufferings’ (Foucault, quoted in Curtin 2009) Crossley Sanatorium: Image from

Evidence Salutogenic Nature Evidence has been accumulating – especially on ‘greenspace’ (generically) But still lots of it is at early stages, low quality or designs lacking inferential power Image: Forestry Commission

Evidence Ulrich, Science.

Evidence Fortescue-Fox & Lloyd, Lancet.

Evidence Korpela et al, 2010, Health Promot Int, 25(2),

Evidence Mitchell, Social Science & Medicine

Nature, health and wellbeing Proposed mechanisms opportunities for physical activity stress reduction/attention restoration increased sense of place/place identity, neighbourhood satisfaction social interaction NB: Louv’s ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ (?)

Key wellbeing activities & staff at ECEHH 1. Monetary valuation of wellbeing - Tim Taylor 2. Development of international wellbeing indicators/index/data - BUPA funded project - Mike Depledge, Mat White (with Fiona Adshead) 3. Wellbeing measures in secondary data sources - Ben Wheeler, Mat White, Clive Sabel 4. High spatial/temporal resolution measurement of individual wellbeing and environmental conditions/perceptions (UoE Open Innovation funded pilot) - Sahran Higgins, Becca Lovell, Ben Wheeler, Mike Depledge 5. Workplace health and wellbeing – Jane Abraham, Julie Pepper, Lora Fleming

6. Wellbeing measures – individual/household/family (Mat White, Ian Alcock) 7. URGENCHE project – assessment of the overall risks and benefits of alternative greenhouse gas emission reduction policies for health and well-being in China and Europe. FP7 project led by Clive Sabel. 8. Mapping wellbeing for small areas across the UK using data from ONS survey (Clive Sabel, Ben Wheeler). 9. Biodiversity, ecosystem services and wellbeing – Mike Depledge, Ben Wheeler, Becca Lovell, Sahran Higgins, Mat White, Tim Taylor 10. Various PhD projects investigating natural environment-wellbeing relationships Key wellbeing activities & staff at ECEHH

Wheeler, White, Stahl-Timmins & Depledge Health & Place.

Blue Space & perceived restorativeness Showed people 120 images: Built, Green, Blue Primary Prop. (≈2/3rds) AquaticGreenBuilt Secondary Prop. (≈1/3rd) AquaticGreenBuiltAquaticGreenBuiltAquaticGreenBuiltTotal Scene only Animal/s Person/s Object/s Total White, M.P., Smith, A., Humphryes, K., Pahl, S., Snelling, D. & Depledge, M. (2010) Blue space: The importance of water for preference, affect and restorativeness ratings of natural and built scenes. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 3/3rds Green 2/3rds Green 2/3rds Blue 3/3rds Blue 5 items from the Perceived Restorativeness Scale, e.g. “That is a place which is away from everyday demands and where I would be able to relax and think about what interests me”

Perceived restorativeness How good is this place for helping you feel better and think clearer? Means with standard errors White, M.P., Smith, A., Humphryes, K., Pahl, S., Snelling, D. & Depledge, M. (2010) Blue space: The importance of water for preference, affect and restorativeness ratings of natural and built scenes. Journal of Environmental Psychology. Bluespace & perceived restorativeness

Systematic Review 11 trials (6 on young students) Most showed some improvement in one or more mental wellbeing measures But studies highly heterogeneous, and some significant quality limitations

Measures Scales – GHQ, WEMWBS etc Health outcome measures QoL measures Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) How happy/relaxed/sad etc. do you feel right now? (mappiness, George McKerron) Day Reconstruction Method (DRM, Kahneman) How happy/relaxed/sad etc do you feel during different activities YESTERDAY + DURATION Daniel Kahneman

Relatively Unpleasurable Relatively Pleasurable ( z-scores) Relatively Unrewarding Relatively Rewarding ( z-scores) Fun & rewarding Rewarding but not fun Fun but not rewarding Not fun or rewarding White & Dolan (2009)

Volunteering Pray/ Meditate Time with Children Cook Exercise Enjoying nature Socialise Read/internet TV Rest/relax Work Housework Listen to music Commute Self-care Sex Shopping Relatively Unpleasurable Relatively Pleasurable ( z-scores) Relatively Unrewarding Relatively Rewarding ( z-scores) Eat Fun & rewarding White & Dolan (2009) Rewarding but not fun Fun but not rewarding Not fun or rewarding

"Money isn't everything. Governments have forgotten this... [We should deliver] the best possible quality of life.” Tony Blair " We have to remember what makes people happy, as well as what makes stock markets rise. It’s time we focused not just on GDP, but on general wellbeing.” David Cameron Dolan, P, Peasgood, T., & White, M.P. (2006). Review of research on the influences on personal well-being and application to policy making. Project Report for DEFRA. UK Sustainability Index & “Well-being”

UK Sustainability Indicators 2010