Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal最新文献

{"title":"Impacts of the Rural Physical Environment on the Mental Health of Different Groups of Older Adults: A Case Study in the Chinese Context.","authors":"Zhenhua Zheng, Jie Zhou, Ning Sun","doi":"10.1177/19375867261438795","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261438795","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectivesThis study examines how the rural physical environment-including spatial environment and leisure facilities-relates to the mental health of rural older adults in China, and explores group differences.BackgroundEvidence on the impact of rural environments on elderly mental health is limited, despite growing attention to this issue.MethodsUsing 2020 CLASS data, structural equation modeling in Mplus analyzed the pathways linking rural space and recreational facilities to mental health and compared group differences.ResultsBoth the rural spatial environment and recreational facilities are positively associated with the mental health of rural older adults, with differences in magnitude and mechanism. Recreational facilities show a stronger association than the spatial environment. The spatial environment is mainly related to mental health through a direct pathway, whereas the association between recreational facilities and mental health is partially mediated by physical exercise, with the direct effect remaining dominant. Group analyses indicate that physical exercise plays a greater mediating role among older adults aged 60-74, while among those aged ≥75, the association is primarily direct and more pronounced. Partial mediation through physical exercise is observed only in northern and more developed rural areas.ConclusionsThe study underscores the vital role of rural leisure facilities in enhancing elderly mental health, particularly those aged ≥75. Improving rural spatial design and developing diverse, age-friendly leisure facilities can promote well-being and provide evidence-based guidance for policies supporting rural revitalization and elderly quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261438795"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147844527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Universal Design, Autonomy, and Psychological Wellbeing of Older Adults With Mobility Disabilities.","authors":"Ye Ji Yi, Naila Hasan, Suchismitha Bhattacharjee, Jinhyo Cho","doi":"10.1177/19375867261440940","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261440940","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectivesThis study investigates the relationship between universal design (UD) attributes, autonomy, and the psychological wellbeing of older adults with disabilities. The goal is to provide evidence-based design guide for aging-in-place, prioritizing UD elements that promote autonomy and psychological wellbeing.MethodA total of 165 older adults participated in the online survey. Using structural equation modeling, the latent factors of UD were identified for the kitchen, bathroom, and general areas within home environments.ResultsResults revealed that bathroom UD features, including walk-in bathtubs, curb-less showers, shower seats, and grab bars, significantly predicted autonomy, whereas kitchen and general UD features did not. Additionally, autonomy was positively associated with psychological wellbeing and fully mediated the relationship between UD features and wellbeing.ConclusionImplications for aging-in-place design are provided, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing functionally essential design factors in residential planning and remodeling for older adults with disabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261440940"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147822242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The SCALE Guidelines: A Framework for Standardized Case Reports in Architecture and the Built Environment.","authors":"Saman Jamshidi","doi":"10.1177/19375867261429020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261429020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>BackgroundAn established publication type in medicine, case reports allow clinicians to share novel or unusual observations. Their strengths include the ability to identify new phenomena, facilitate communication between practice and research, generate hypotheses, and provide insights into conditions that it may be unethical or impractical to study directly. Architecture and environmental design lack an equivalent method for systematically sharing practice-based insights.PurposeThis paper establishes clear, structured guidelines for documenting and preparing case reports in architecture and environmental design.MethodsUsing a comparative and conceptual approach, this study adapts the CARE Guidelines-developed for case reporting in medicine-to the context of design practice. The study draws conceptual parallels between stages of clinical care (e.g., diagnosis, treatment, outcomes) and those of the design process (e.g., problem identification, interventions, post-occupancy evaluations). Building on this comparison, it introduces a new set of guidelines for architectural case reports.FindingsThe resulting framework, the SCALE Guidelines (Standardized Case reports for Architecture and the buiLt Environment), consists of 12 components that provide a standardized structure for writing design case reports. The guidelines will help practitioners share real-world insights in a format suitable for scholarly dissemination that promotes consistency, completeness, and rigor in reporting.ConclusionsAlthough evidence-based design aims to inform design decisions in practice through research, case reports serve the opposite function: informing research decisions through insights from practice. The formal recognition of case reports in design as a distinct publication type can help bridge the gap between design practice and research.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261429020"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147785539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Reduced Lighting on Psychological Well-Being During a Non-Stress Test in Pregnant Women: A Randomized Controlled Study.","authors":"Emine Yıldırım, Filiz Polat","doi":"10.1177/19375867261438793","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261438793","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectivesThis study was conducted to investigate the effect of light brightness on stress, anxiety, and psychological well-being during non-stress test (NST) measurements.BackgroundEmotional and environmental factors that may cause stress and anxiety in pregnant women should be carefully evaluated and the necessary measures should be taken before and during the applications to pregnant women.MethodsThis research was conducted with 100 pregnant women as a randomized controlled experimental study. Data were collected using a personal information form, the psychological well-being questionnaire (PWQ), the perceived stress scale (PSS), and the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), which were administered before and after the NST measurement.ResultsThere were significant intra-group differences between the mean pre-test (before NST) and post-test (after NST) scores of the pregnant women in the intervention group on the scales used in the study [PWQ pre-test (33.90 ± 9.18) and post-test (36.24 ± 7.83); PSS pre-test (32.26 ± 6.74) and post-test (27.0 ± 4.13); STAI pre-test (48.88 ± 4.04) and post-test (46.26 ± 3.97)] (p < 0.05). The difference between the mean pre-test (33.98 ± 9.11) and post-test (33.86 ± 9.04) PWQ scores of the pregnant women in the control group was insignificant. But there was a significant difference between the mean pre-test (32.08 ± 6.64) and post-test (33.0 ± 6.77) PSS scores of this group (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe results of the study indicated that reducing ambient light brightness levels during NST measurements increased pregnant women's psychological well-being and reduced their stress and anxiety.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261438793"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147785454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reimagining Third Places in Healthcare: The Role of Flexible Design in Enhancing Social Support in Healthcare Communal Spaces.","authors":"Nurah Alfowzan, Margaret Portillo, Shabboo Valipoor","doi":"10.1177/19375867261438803","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261438803","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectiveThis study examines how flexible design attributes in staff-only communal spaces influence healthcare workers' perceived social support during high-stress periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic.BackgroundCommunal staff spaces offer essential opportunities for relaxation, rejuvenation, and social interaction. Indeed, for some, these spaces can become third places supporting individual needs and fostering a sense of belonging. The pandemic, however, imposed severe restrictions on the use of such spaces, often exacerbating staff stress levels. Lessons from the recent pandemic highlighted the need to reassess these dedicated spaces in terms of their design and functionality.MethodsA survey of healthcare staff (<i>n</i> = 233) who had worked in the field during the pandemic was conducted. The survey was informed by prior research that included a scoping review and expert interviews. Participants evaluated three illustrated design scenarios using Likert-scale measures of social support.ResultsNonparametric tests revealed statistically significant differences in staff preferences across three design scenarios emphasizing different flexibility attributes (<i>p</i> < .001). Post hoc analyses showed a strong preference for versatile spaces<b>,</b> particularly those that provided both indoor and outdoor options<b>.</b> Flexibility attributes directly support core third-place qualities by enabling spaces to remain accessible, comfortable, and socially supportive even as conditions change.ConclusionFindings emphasize the importance of investing in intentionally designed staff spaces that can operate as supportive third places. Flexible environments that can adjust to evolving needs play a crucial role in helping communal spaces function as effective third places that support connection, social interaction, and staff well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261438803"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147730097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stakeholder Differences in Preferences for Adult Day Care Center Site and Building Design Features.","authors":"Shwn-Jen Lee, Sheng-Wen Su, Hong-Ji Luo","doi":"10.1177/19375867261433021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261433021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>AimTo compare the perspectives of two stakeholder groups, adult day care center (ADCC) managers and family members of older adults with disabilities or dementia, regarding ADCC site and building design features.BackgroundThe ADCCs provide community-based services for older adults with disabilities or dementia and support family caregivers. Different stakeholder groups, including managers and family caregivers, may have varying views on the planning and design of health facilities. However, little is known about how managers and family members differ in their views on ADCC planning and design.MethodsWe adopted a cross-sectional exploratory design across Taiwan. Ten site selection factors and eight building design factors were used to construct an analytic hierarchy process questionnaire. A total of 81 managers and 59 family members were included, and the data were collected using one-on-one interviews. Pairwise comparisons between factors were conducted to obtain the eigenvectors (priority weights), and weight differences between the managers and family members were calculated using <i>t</i>-tests.ResultsManagers placed higher importance on community attitudes and governmental support, while family members emphasized access to health services, transportation, and public safety. In building design, family members valued clearer spatial visibility, whereas managers placed relatively greater emphasis on temperature control.ConclusionsManagers and family members of service users weighed site and building design factors differently, especially in the domains related to \"support and attitudes\" and \"services, systems, and policies.\" These findings highlight important differences between these two stakeholder groups and provide critical insights for the planning and design of ADCCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261433021"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147677593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Theoretical Integration for Designing Healing ICU Environments: An Interdisciplinary Framework.","authors":"Edouard Paquet, Caroline Gagnon, Maria Cecilia Gallani","doi":"10.1177/19375867261440937","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261440937","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>PurposeThis paper presents an integrated framework combining perspectives from nursing, environmental psychology, and critical space theory. The framework is intended to support the study of materiality in ICUs and to inform future research on stakeholders' needs and guiding design interventions for more supportive, healing care environments.BackgroundIntensive care units (ICUs) are paradoxical spaces designed to save lives yet often experienced by patients as environments of dependency, disorientation, and loss of control. Materiality of the ICU environments can exacerbate stress and compromise recovery. While interventions addressing the material environment show promise in improving care experiences, existing approaches remain limited by single-theory perspectives that fail to capture the complexity of ICU materiality.MethodsThe integrated conceptual framework was developed through theory-informed synthesis guided by relevance to ICU settings and theoretical complementarity. Three established theories were synthesized-Roy's Adaptation Model, Ulrich's Theory of Supportive Design, and Lefebvre's Critical Theory on Space Production-using conceptual mapping across ontological, interactional, and interventional levels.ResultsThe analysis revealed convergent points and complementary relationships across the three theories. The integrated framework synthesizes these perspectives across three interconnected dimensions: environmental stimuli and adaptive response, spatial production and power relations, and evidence-based supportive design.ConclusionsThe integrated framework demonstrates that healing ICU environments require interdisciplinary approaches addressing interconnected biological, psychological, social, and material dimensions simultaneously. Effective interventions must target adaptive physiological needs, reduce psychological stress through supportive design, and challenge spatial power relations that marginalize patients and families. This framework provides a foundation for research and practice that empowers all care-related stakeholders to actively shape healing ICU environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261440937"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147677574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantitative Study of Indoor Light and Sleep Health in Elderly.","authors":"Juanjie Li, Tongyue Wang, Rongdi Shao, Chuang Yu, Luoxi Hao, Yujie Wu","doi":"10.1177/19375867261426378","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261426378","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>ObjectiveCurrent lighting recommendations rely on Western laboratory studies, leaving the real-world mechanisms linking light exposure to sleep in Asian older adults unclear. This study aims to systematically analyze the complex relationships among daily light exposure, activity patterns, and sleep health in older adults living in residential environments.BackgroundExisting lighting guidance for sleep and circadian health is predominantly based on Western laboratory research, with no clear elucidation of the real-world associative mechanisms between light exposure and sleep among Asian older adults. This study targets this research gap by exploring the relevant correlations in real residential settings, to lay a foundation for targeted lighting improvement for the elderly population.MethodsWe employed a field investigation combining subjective and objective measurements in the living spaces of 116 elderly participants in Shanghai, China. Individual ocular light exposure and activity patterns were collected via luxmeters and interviews. Sleep quality and chronotype were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ). Hierarchical multiple linear regression was employed to examine associations, controlling for age and gender.ResultsField measurements confirmed that participants' indoor environments were pervasively light-deficient, lacking sufficient daytime stimulus for robust circadian entrainment. Age was the strongest negative predictor of sleep efficiency (β= -0.419, p < 0.001). After controlling for age, the light environment explained a significant 9.3% of additional variance (p = 0.012). Notably, higher maximum daytime ocular illuminance (Ev) was associated with lower sleep efficiency (β = -0.413, p = 0.015), while higher maximum evening ocular illuminance (Ev) was associated with higher sleep efficiency (β = 0.279, p = 0.008).ConclusionsThese findings challenge simplistic guidelines: high daytime light peaks likely represent uncomfortable glare rather than effective circadian stimulus, while evening light proxies for beneficial social activity. This underscores the urgent need for context-aware, glare-free residential lighting strategies to promote healthy aging among older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261426378"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147677279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Multifaceted Role of Corridors in Residential Care Facilities: A Phenomenological Hermeneutic Study With Older Adults.","authors":"Karin Elias, Qarin Lood","doi":"10.1177/19375867261431866","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261431866","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>AimThe aim of this study was to explore meanings embedded in corridors and how these relate to older adults' experiences of physical movement and their living environment within a residential care facility.BackgroundResidential care facilities should serve as both care environments and homes. Nevertheless, many facilities are designed like hospitals, prioritizing care over a homelike environment. Corridors are a common feature in residential care facilities' communal areas, yet little is known about older adults' experiences of these spaces.MethodsThe study had an explorative qualitative design, adopting a phenomenological hermeneutic method. Three men and three women between 81 and 96 years of age were interviewed when moving through residential care facility corridors. Two men and two women participated one follow-up interview each.ResultsThe interpretation led to the overarching theme <i>Corridors' multifaceted role in shaping lived spaces</i>. This theme comprises seven sub-themes which portray meanings ranging from physical aspects through to emotional impact, incentives, integrity, habituation, symbolic meanings of institutions and power, and how corridors may lack in meeting personal needs. Themes were further interpreted in relation to theories on sociomateriality, place/placelessness, and affordances.ConclusionsThe findings highlight corridors as material and symbolic spaces that influence older adults' well-being. However, there is also a risk of existential placelessness when personal connection with the environment is lacking. Incorporating personal and homelike elements that address older adults' aesthetic, social, and existential needs can soften clinical atmospheres, transforming corridors into meaningful parts of the living environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261431866"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Intergenerational Interactions in Residential Environments: A Systematic Scoping Review.","authors":"Dowon Lee, Uchita Vaid, Jung-Hye Shin","doi":"10.1177/19375867261431346","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867261431346","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Family caregiving has been central to U.S. eldercare, supported by federal policies. However, recent shifts towards neoliberalism, devolution of aging policy, rising chronic illnesses, and increasing social isolation have spurred interest in intergenerational communities. <b>Objective:</b> This study explores these models, assessing their impact on health and well-being. <b>Methods:</b> We conducted a systematic scoping review of studies published after 2000, searching PsycInfo, Family & Society Studies Worldwide, SocINDEX, Urban Studies, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. <b>Results:</b> Selected studies were analyzed under three themes: the quality and quantity of intergenerational interactions, potential benefits, and the impact of the built environment. A total of 20 studies were included in this review. Interventions mostly occurred weekly, with varied interaction quality. Potential outcomes included improved intergenerational attitudes, social and behavioral development, physical and mental health, and quality of life. Research on the role of the built environment remains scarce. <b>Conclusion:</b> This review highlights the potential of Intentional Intergenerational Communities (IICs). However, significant gaps remain, reflecting the early stage of IIC implementation. Future research should focus on generating robust evidence to inform policymakers and practitioners.</p>","PeriodicalId":47306,"journal":{"name":"Herd-Health Environments Research & Design Journal","volume":" ","pages":"19375867261431346"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}