The perceived sensory dimensions of nature, refuge, and prospect in urban environments are positively linked to teen mental health

The World Health Organization and other national and international groups have identified mental health concerns among teenagers as a serious worldwide issue. While previous research indicates that exposure to and engagement with nature can promote improved mental health, much of that research has not focused on teenagers. This study addressed this concern by investigating links between perceived sensory dimensions (PSDs) of urban green spaces (UGSs) and teenagers’ perceived restoration, stress, and mental health. PSDs relate to characteristics of green spaces which correspond to different human needs relating to the promotion of health and well-being.

This study was conducted in in eight different UGSs in Aydın, Turkey with 384 teenagers (ages 13-19) participating. The UGSs included recreational areas, neighborhood parks, an urban park, and a greenway. These areas were chosen based on the extent to which they displayed specific PSDs. The PSDs of each of the UGSs were evaluated by two professional landscape architects in relation to eight aesthetic qualities: nature (naturalness), serene (quiet and calm), space (spaciousness), rich in species (variety of plants and animals), social (invites social interaction), prospect (open area with a good view), culture (cultural features), and refuge (small safe place with opportunity for solitude). Final ratings reflected a consensus of the two landscape architects. A three-part survey was administered orally to each of the participating teenagers while they were in one of the designated USGs. The first section of the survey collected demographic information; the second measured the teenagers’ perceived restorativeness of the UGS they were in; the third collected information about the teenagers’ perceptions of their stress and mental health status. For perceived restorativeness, five factors were considered: fascination (effortless attention), opportunity for being away physically, opportunity for being away psychologically, compatibility (sense that the environment supports one's intended actions), and extent (the environment has sufficient content to engage the mind for a long enough period to allow directed attention to rest).

Very high stress levels were reported by 18.8% of the teenagers; 12.5% reported having very bad mental health. Girls generally reported more stress and mental health problems than boys. Overall findings revealed positive links between some of the PSDs and different areas of perceived restoration. The more natural the UGS ("nature"), the more it was perceived as restorative in that it evoked effortless attention ("fascination"), provided an opportunity to be physically away and was sufficiently rich in content (“extent"). Small safe places with opportunity for solitude ("refuge”) were seen as restorative in the sense of being physically away. There were also positive associations between some of the PSDs and mental health. Open areas with good views ("prospect”) were associated with stress reduction and improved mental health. One of the PSD’s  seemed to have a negative impact on perceived restoration; spacious areas ("space") did not support effortless attention ("fascination"). There were no significant associations between “culture” and perceived restoration. Two of the PSDs – "rich in species" and "social" – were excluded from the final analysis due to statistical issues. Findings revealed some differences between boys and girls. Small, safe spaces with an opportunity for solitude ("refuge”) were associated with stress reduction for girls but not for boys. More spacious UGSs were associated with less perceived restorativeness for boys, but not for girls. Unexpectedly, quiet and calm environments ("serene") was not associated with perceived restorativeness, stress and mental health in this adolescent sample as it typically is in adults.

The overall findings suggest that providing more natural spaces; small, safe spaces with the opportunity for solitude, and open areas with good views may offer restorative and mental health benefits to teenagers. Further research is needed, however, before using these specific characteristics as a guide for landscape architects and city planners.