Wellbeing Space and Society最新文献

{"title":"Reconnecting people to nature through virtual reality: A mixed-methods field study in the context of public engagement events","authors":"Giovanna Calogiuri ,&nbsp;Elena Brambilla ,&nbsp;Ole E. Flaten ,&nbsp;Fred Fröhlich ,&nbsp;Sigbjørn Litleskare","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100254","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100254","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nature connectedness, a person's sense of belonging with the natural world, has received increasing attention as a psychological construct associated with environmental commitment and well-being. Immersive Virtual Nature (IVN) emerged as a promising medium to promote this connection, though its applicability in real-world settings is largely under-researched. This field study explored user experience and nature connectedness outcomes in the context of public engagement events featuring two types of IVN installations. A mixed-methods approach was employed, with data collected through surveys and field observations during events in two middle schools and three university campuses. In total, 209 IVN experiences were recorded, involving students, teaching/administrative staff, and other campus dwellers (age: 13–73; gender: 55 % women, 44 % men, 1 % other). The participants experienced high levels of presence, playful engagement, and positive emotions, though cybersickness and technical issues were also reported. Statistically significant increases in nature connectedness were found, with a more pronounced effect among participants who initially reported lower levels of connection. Accordingly, qualitative reports highlighted how the IVN experiences prompted participants to reflect on their relationship with nature, fostering their sense of connectedness and interest in nature-based activities. The two IVN installations proposed were associated with different user experience, though no differences emerged with respect to nature connectedness outcomes. This study corroborates and extends the current understanding of IVN as a medium for the proportion of nature connectedness, underscoring the potential of public engagement events as an accessible approach to engage diverse groups with IVN experiences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100254"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interconnected factors influencing family health and wellbeing in overcrowded homes and points for intervention – A qualitative study in London","authors":"Elizabeth Rose Eveleigh ,&nbsp;Laura Nixon ,&nbsp;Mathilda O'Donoghue ,&nbsp;Pratima Singh ,&nbsp;Rose McDonald ,&nbsp;Marcella Ucci ,&nbsp;Jessica Sheringham","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100250","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100250","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Household overcrowding contributes to poor familial health/wellbeing and is driven by a shortage of affordable housing. Despite being defined by spatial constraints, the other factors influencing and exacerbating overcrowding's impact remain underexplored. Through focus groups and interviews with London-based professionals working with overcrowded families (<em>n</em> = 22) and residents with lived experience (<em>n</em> = 25), using thematic analysis we identify aspects of living in overcrowded conditions which affect health/wellbeing outcomes framed according to levels within the Social Ecological Model (SEM). Besides lack of space, overcrowding affects health/wellbeing via a complex web of interactions across personal circumstances, housing suitability/quality, accessibility of amenities/services, and systemic societal challenges. Addressing these factors could improve the lives of families in overcrowded homes, particularly when rehousing may not be feasible in the short term. Household overcrowding contributes to poor familial health/wellbeing and is driven by a shortage of affordable housing. Despite being defined by spatial constraints, the other factors influencing and exacerbating overcrowding's impact remain underexplored. Through focus groups and interviews with London-based professionals working with overcrowded families (<em>n</em> = 22) and residents with lived experience (<em>n</em> = 25), using thematic analysis we identify aspects of living in overcrowded conditions which affect health/wellbeing outcomes framed according to levels within the Social Ecological Model (SEM). Besides lack of space, overcrowding affects health/wellbeing via a complex web of interactions across personal circumstances, housing suitability/quality, accessibility of amenities/services, and systemic societal challenges. Addressing these factors could improve the lives of families in overcrowded homes, particularly when rehousing may not be feasible in the short term.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100250"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143592286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prescribing Nature for Human Health: An Examination of Public Interest, Barriers, and Enablers Related to Nature Prescription Programming in Canada","authors":"Christopher J. Lemieux ,&nbsp;Calin Lazarescu ,&nbsp;Catherine E. Reining ,&nbsp;Mark W. Groulx ,&nbsp;Melissa Lem ,&nbsp;Thomas Astell-Burt ,&nbsp;Xiaoqi Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100251","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100251","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nature prescriptions are emerging as a promising preventive healthcare strategy. Despite their proliferation in recent years, limited research exists on public awareness, interest, and the factors that may influence the success of such programs. For the first time in the Canadian context, we examine public awareness of nature prescription programs and explore the barriers and enablers that may impact their uptake. Using a cross-sectional, online survey of 3,593 respondents, we reveal that over 75 % of participants would be more likely to visit natural areas if recommended by a healthcare professional. However, &gt;92 % of respondents reported being unaware of nature prescription programs. We also reveal several structural, intrapersonal, and interpersonal barriers to accessing nature, which are particularly pronounced for certain subpopulations, including Newcomers, BIPOC, young adults, individuals who self-identify, and individuals with children. We identify the key enablers that could reduce such barriers, including health insurance coverage, free park access, and subsidized transportation. Finally, we discuss the ways in which strategically employing these enablers could help reduce disparities in access to nature and enhance the overall effectiveness of nature prescription programs as they expand in Canada and indeed globally. Effectively leveraging the high levels of public trust and expertise that exist within both the healthcare and conservation sectors in the co-design of programs, as well as more effective policy uptake by health insurance providers, will be essential to advancing this promising frontier in preventative health care and nature conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100251"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The hidden penalties of informal work: Life-job satisfaction and negative affect","authors":"Lina Martínez ,&nbsp;Maria Isabel Zafra","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study of the subjective well-being of informal workers in the global South is new and scattered. Little is known about informal workers' job and life satisfaction or this group's positive and negative emotional experiences. Using an extensive population survey in Cali, Colombia, we analyze the subjective well-being of over 1,100 formal and informal workers. Two questions guided the analysis: i) how is life satisfaction for formal and informal workers, and ii) how satisfied are formal and informal workers with their jobs? Informal workers score lower in all factors analyzed. The same pattern is found in job-related factors like wages, daily activities, challenges, and interpersonal relationships in the work environment. Informal workers also experience more often negative emotions like worry, depression, and anger. The subjective well-being dimension of informal employment explored in this analysis aims to inform better policy-making in the global South.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100253"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"On the impact of public art: How engaging a pedestrian-level exhibition improves neighborhood connectedness and well-being","authors":"C. Kühnapfel ,&nbsp;M. Trupp ,&nbsp;M. Pelowski ,&nbsp;J. Fingerhut","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100252","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>How might publicly visible art enhance well-being and positively impact mental health? One aspect of art's potential lies in its capacity to foster a sense of connection to one's neighborhood or surroundings and to enhance feelings of community. Although this has long been a goal for artists and cultural initiatives, especially in urban areas, it has not been studied experimentally. To begin to fill this gap, we investigated how a free sidewalk-level exhibition about a neighborhood in Berlin, Germany altered visitors’ connection to and satisfaction with their neighborhood, as well as their overall well-being. Using a pre-registered pre-post design, we asked passers-by to engage with the exhibition, and their attitudes and well-being were assessed before and after the experience. We also considered participants’ cognitive-affective experiences and their agreement with the intended emotions of the artist and curator as factors predicting changes. Results showed that after engaging with the exhibition, participants (<em>N</em> = 64) felt significantly more connected to the neighborhood and reported improved well-being. These changes were higher when participants felt the emotions intended by the artist. Additionally, feeling expansive emotions and reporting higher cognitive appraisal in terms of meaningfulness and understanding of the art related to improved neighborhood connectedness. Our findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting that publicly accessible art may function as a community-connecting node. It highlights the role of the artist's intention, felt emotions, and cognitive appraisals shaping in the impact of neighborhood galleries. These insights research could inform future public art exhibitions and urban well-being interventionsfuture exhibitions and interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100252"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The need to change the narrative, to change the context: Urban indigenous women surviving-or-thriving responses to stressors","authors":"Diane Simon ,&nbsp;Muna Aden ,&nbsp;Saara Greene ,&nbsp;Doe O'Brien-Teengs ,&nbsp;Mona Loutfy ,&nbsp;Anita C. Benoit","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Canada, Indigenous women have a range of life stressors and possess a spectrum of behaviours in response to stressors. We aimed to learn more about their life stressors and coping strategies. We recruited women self-identifying as Indigenous living in Toronto, Ontario, to discuss their life stressors through sharing circles and one-on-one interviews. A thematic analysis was conducted on the transcribed semi-structured discussions. Our data shows the participants’ experiences of control over stressors ranging from loss of control, being controlled, and attempting to control their socio-economic situations and financial constraints, their perceived identities and images as well as the impact of the social environment on their health and wellbeing. We also summarized how they address stressors and their experiences with and understandings of how the concept or practice of control manifests in their responses. Our findings provide a glimpse into the complexities of coping and the sense of control Indigenous women have over life stressors and has important implications for service providers, policy-makers and researchers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100249"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The socio-economic impact of artificial reefs on fishing communities in the east coast region of Malaysia","authors":"Nurul Huda Sapehee ,&nbsp;Hazman Samsudin ,&nbsp;Wan Izatul Asma Wan Talaat ,&nbsp;Norfatiha Othman ,&nbsp;Mohamad M. Fikri ,&nbsp;Muhammad Naqib Hasri ,&nbsp;Izarenah Md Repin ,&nbsp;Abdul Rahman Abdul Latip","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the impact of artificial reefs on fishing communities in Terengganu, one of the states in the East Coast Region of Peninsular Malaysia. Using a quantitative approach, 172 fishermen were surveyed to assess their perceptions and experiences with artificial reef development programmes. Results revealed a positive shift in the income profile of fishermen, with many diversifying their income sources and experiencing increased household income. Furthermore, most respondents were aware of and utilised artificial reefs during fishing activities. The deployment of artificial reefs has significantly increased fish abundance, reduced fishing efforts, contributed to higher-value catches and subsequently improved fishermen's socioeconomic status. The findings of this study underscore the potential of artificial reefs as a sustainable strategy for enhancing the livelihoods of coastal communities. By providing alternative fishing grounds and promoting biodiversity, artificial reefs can contribute to the economic development and resilience of coastal regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100248"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the interactions between society, wellbeing and urban spaces: An investigation of safety and morphological attributes focusing on human experiences","authors":"Z.N. González-Flores,&nbsp;Mariel Organista","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban spaces are the heart of cities, where social relationships and daily activities occur. This study examines the safety and morphological characteristics of urban spaces to investigate habitability, placing a strong emphasis on human experiences. The interactions between urban space and society largely depend on these environments' morphological attributes. A correlational approach integrated quantitative and qualitative dimensions, using a questionnaire and participant observation to examine the interactions between people and urban places in a Mexican city. This research aims to uncover how urban spaces are lived and felt by their inhabitants. The study focuses on two specific urban areas in Ensenada, Mexico. It incorporates a subjective analysis from the perspective of an architecture expert, complemented by the application of 192 perception surveys. This approach enables a comparative analysis of human experiences in areas sharing similar social patterns. The findings suggest that specific morphological attributes, such as controlled access and visibility through lighting, contribute to a greater sense of community safety, eliciting emotions like satisfaction when engaging in everyday activities in a perceived safe environment. This analysis contributes to understanding how urban spaces are perceived and used and how these environments impact social and emotional well-being. Furthermore, this study offers a methodological contribution to interdisciplinary research by providing an innovative participatory approach that encourages reflection on the emotional fabric of places, shaping wellbeing at an urban scale by considering how communities perceive the world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143562248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is perceived safety a prerequisite for the relationship between green space availability, and the use and perceived comfort of green space?","authors":"Ruoyu Wang ,&nbsp;Yuxiao Jiang ,&nbsp;Dongwei Liu ,&nbsp;Huiwen Peng ,&nbsp;Mengqiu Cao ,&nbsp;Yao Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, many researchers have argued that both the availability of green space (GS) and perceived neighbourhood safety may be prerequisites for the use of GS, but empirical findings remain inconsistent. This study explores how perceived neighbourhood safety moderates the associations between the availability of neighbourhood GS and residents’ use of GS, using survey data collected in Guangzhou, China. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (overall amount of greenness), park accessibility and a measure of Street View Greenness (eye-level greenness) were used to estimate two types of GS availability (overall vs. eye-level). As shown by the results of the multilevel models, eye-level greenness was positively associated with the use of and perceived comfort of GS for those respondents with a higher level of perceived neighbourhood safety; it was negatively related to the use and perceived comfort of GS in the case of respondents with a lower level of perceived neighbourhood safety. In addition, the overall amount of greenness was positively associated with the use and perceived comfort of GS regardless of the level of perceived neighbourhood safety. Our findings suggest that perceived safety may be a potential prerequisite for positive associations between the availability of GSS at eye level and the use of and perceived comfort of GS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100247"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do green and blue spaces in the residential neighbourhood have an effect on multimorbidity? A comparative, observational study of 48,589 UK Biobank participants","authors":"Mariya Geneshka ,&nbsp;Colin J McClean ,&nbsp;Andre Bedendo ,&nbsp;Simon Gilbody ,&nbsp;Peter Coventry","doi":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.wss.2025.100244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Availability of green and blue space in the urban residential neighbourhood can reduce the risk of poor mental and physical health, however, little is still known about different types of urban green and blue spaces and their differential impact on individuals that have multiple physical and mental chronic health conditions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a cross-sectional study of 48,589 UK Biobank participants to analyse the relationship between exposure to seven types of urban green and blue spaces (parks, street trees, domestic gardens, total green space, inland blue space, proximity to coast and total green and blue space) with five multimorbidity outcomes: simple (2 long-term health conditions (LTCs)), complex (3 LTCs or 4+LTCs), cardio-metabolic, respiratory, and mental multimorbidity. Amount (% in 1500 m circular buffers) and proximity (Euclidean distance) of green and blue spaces in the residential neighbourhood were computed individually for each UK Biobank participant using remote sense data from European Urban Atlas. Analyses were adjusted for the Bonferroni correction for multiple testing to reduce the risk of false positive results. Sensitivity analyses were conducted by buffer size (300 m and 3000 m).</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Individuals that have a higher proportion of inland blue spaces in their residential neighbourhood had lower odds of multimorbidity. For every percent increase in the amount of inland blue space in 3000 m buffer, the odds of having complex multimorbidity (3LTCs) decreased by 3 % (OR:0·97; 95 % CI:0·95–0·98; p-value:0·0002) after applying the Bonferroni correction. In contrast, individuals with a higher amount of total green space within a 1500 m buffer had a higher risk of having 4+ LTCs (OR:1·01; 95 % CI:1·00–1·01; p-value:0.00005). Other types of green and blue spaces had no effect on our outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Urban inland blue spaces, such as rivers and canals, are integral parts of life in UK but they have often been overlooked in observational health research. Future policy should aim to incorporate blue spaces in the design of urban regeneration and public health interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":52616,"journal":{"name":"Wellbeing Space and Society","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100244"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}