Beyond birdsong and car horns: An experimental study of restoration with music in a park and a city environment
2021 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (professional degree), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
Stress is a serious problem for many individuals, especially students. Research on means to promote restoration, such as through the study of restorative environments or the use of music, are important tools to promote healthy coping. The present study examines the combined effects of music and restorative natural environments on a student sample (N=24) using a mixed experimental design, with music as a within-subject and environments as a between-subject variable. The study used a loading task to induce subjective fatigue and lower core affect, then examined the effects of walking in a botanical garden or an urban city center upon a range of outcomes. The study found that participants walked faster and chose faster music for the urban environment, with had increased restorative potential when combined with music. The natural environment was rated more restorative in general but had declining restorative value upon the second visit, with music. No differences in attentional or affective outcomes were found between conditions, potentially due to limitations with the study design.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2021.
Keywords [en]
Fatigue, Stress, Restoration, Nature, Urban Music
National Category
Psychology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-498991OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-498991DiVA, id: diva2:1745179
Subject / course
Psychology
Educational program
Psykologprogrammet
Supervisors
Examiners
2023-03-222023-03-222023-03-22Bibliographically approved