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Renaud F, Verduyckt I, Chang T, Lacerda A, Borges C, Bockstael A, Bouserhal RE. Student's Self-Reported Experience of Soundscape: The Link between Noise, Psychological and Physical Well-Being. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 21:84. [PMID: 38248548 PMCID: PMC11154246 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21010084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Extensive research has shown that noise has detrimental effects on learning in classrooms, yet schools remain noisy environments. In addition, little is known about the students' insight into their subjective reaction to noise. Students' awareness of noise, as well as their perception of its effects on their affective and bodily states, remain unanswered. In the current study, the self-reported experience of noise and reaction towards noise, which was collected by way of a questionnaire, was assessed for 408 students in primary and secondary schools in Québec. Results suggest that about half of the students experience affective and bodily reactions to noise, and students who report having a negative affective reaction to noise are also more prone to report feeling this noise in their bodies. The results of this study offer a comprehensive picture of the students' subjective (affective and bodily) state in relation to noise in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Renaud
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada;
| | - Ingrid Verduyckt
- School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3N 1X7, Canada; (T.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Tiffany Chang
- School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3N 1X7, Canada; (T.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Adriana Lacerda
- School of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3N 1X7, Canada; (T.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Cecilia Borges
- Department of Psychopedagogy and Andragogy, Faculty of Arts and Science, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H2V 2S9, Canada;
| | - Annelies Bockstael
- Department of Health and Care, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Rachel E. Bouserhal
- Electrical Engineering Department, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, QC H3C 0J8, Canada;
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Aletta F, Oberman T, Mitchell A, Erfanian M, Kang J. Soundscape experience of public spaces in different world regions: A comparison between the European and Chinese contexts via a large-scale on-site surveya). THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 154:1710-1734. [PMID: 37712752 DOI: 10.1121/10.0020842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The influence of cultural background on the soundscape experience in public spaces has been widely acknowledged. However, most studies have not used standardized protocols for soundscape perception data collection, nor have they gathered large datasets across different regions of the world to investigate possible cultural differences. This study explored the relationships between soundscape descriptors, perceived dominance of sound sources, and overall soundscape qualities and whether these relationships differ across world regions. A database of over 2000 soundscape surveys was collected in situ in outdoor public spaces in Europe and China. Results highlighted differences in how European and Chinese participants perceived the pleasantness and dominance of different sound sources. Specifically, the positive correlation between perceived pleasantness and natural sounds was stronger for European participants. For Chinese participants, vibrant soundscapes were positively correlated with perceived dominance of natural sounds, whereas in Europe, they were associated more with human-generated sounds. Perceived loudness had a greater effect on the appropriateness dimension for the Chinese sample than that for the European sample. This study provides a deeper understanding of how the geographical/cultural context can influence soundscape perception in public spaces and suggests that such country-specific factors should be considered when designing urban soundscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Aletta
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tin Oberman
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Mitchell
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mercede Erfanian
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jian Kang
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Shu S. Exploring the role of soundscape in restorative experience: A pilot study from children’s perspective. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1131170. [PMID: 36998354 PMCID: PMC10043254 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1131170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Indoor and outdoor noise is renowned for its ability to negatively affect children’s health and performance. However, the possible restorative benefits of everyday soundscapes in children are still poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the role of everyday soundscapes in children’s restorative experiences in frequented indoor (classroom) and outdoor (urban park) environments. In stage one, 335 children (7–12 years old) were interviewed using a questionnaire survey to investigate their restoration needs, restorative experience, and potential restorative sounds. In stage two, 61 children participated in a laboratory study to assess the perceived restorativeness of different soundscapes, which were combinations of potential restorative sounds and background noise, under signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) from −5 to 15 dB. The findings denoted that the children’s need for restoration increased with age significantly. Younger children reported that the role of the sound environment was more important in their classroom experiences than in urban parks. Although the types of music displayed in surveyed parks were generally not preferred by the children, music was assessed as the most restorative sound in the laboratory study. Additionally, natural sounds were perceived to be more restorative than background noise in the context. In particular, birdsong showed more restorativeness in the classroom context, whereas fountain sounds showed more restorativeness in the park context. Additionally, an SNR of at least 5 dB is desirable when considering the restorative experiences of children in classrooms and urban parks.
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Talebzadeh A, Decoutere I, Vander Mynsbrugge T, Botteldooren D, Devos P, Aletta F, Van de Velde D, De Vriendt P. The Influence of Everyday Acoustic Environments on the Challenging Behavior in Dementia: A Participatory Observation Study in Nursing Homes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4191. [PMID: 36901204 PMCID: PMC10002302 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Challenging behavior (CB) is a group of behaviors, reactions and symptoms due to dementia, which can be challenging for the caregivers. The study aims to research the influence of acoustics on CB in people with dementia (PwD). An ethnographic method was used to study the daily life of PwD in their nursing homes with a specific focus on how people react to everyday environmental sounds. Thirty-five residents were included in the sample based on purposeful, homogeneous group characteristics and sampling. Empirical data were collected using 24/7 participatory observations. The collected data were analyzed using a phenomenological-hermeneutical method: a naïve understanding, a structural analysis and a comprehensive understanding. The result shows that the onset of CB depends on whether the resident feels safe and is triggered by an excess or lack of stimuli. The excess or shortage of stimuli and whether and when it affects a person is personal. It depends on various factors, the person's state and the time of day, the nature of the stimuli, familiarity, or strangeness is also a determining factor for the onset and progression of CB. The results can form an essential basis for developing soundscapes to make the PwD feel safe and reduce CB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arezoo Talebzadeh
- Department of Information Technology, WAVES—iGent, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ine Decoutere
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Care Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tara Vander Mynsbrugge
- Occupational Therapy Department, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dick Botteldooren
- Department of Information Technology, WAVES—iGent, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Paul Devos
- Department of Information Technology, WAVES—iGent, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Francesco Aletta
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, The Bartlett, University College London, London WC1H 0NN, UK
| | - Dominique Van de Velde
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Care Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Occupational Therapy Department, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patricia De Vriendt
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Care Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Occupational Therapy Department, Artevelde University of Applied Sciences, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Frailty in Ageing (FRIA) Research Group, Department of Gerontology and Mental Health and Wellbeing (MENT) Research Group, Vrije Universiteit, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
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Welch D, Reybrouck M, Podlipniak P. Meaning in Music Is Intentional, but in Soundscape It Is Not-A Naturalistic Approach to the Qualia of Sounds. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:269. [PMID: 36612591 PMCID: PMC9819651 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The sound environment and music intersect in several ways and the same holds true for the soundscape and our internal response to listening to music. Music may be part of a sound environment or take on some aspects of environmental sound, and therefore some of the soundscape response may be experienced alongside the response to the music. At a deeper level, coping with music, spoken language, and the sound environment may all have influenced our evolution, and the cognitive-emotional structures and responses evoked by all three sources of acoustic information may be, to some extent, the same. This paper distinguishes and defines the extent of our understanding about the interplay of external sound and our internal response to it in both musical and real-world environments. It takes a naturalistic approach to music/sound and music-listening/soundscapes to describe in objective terms some mechanisms of sense-making and interactions with the sounds. It starts from a definition of sound as vibrational and transferable energy that impinges on our body and our senses, with a dynamic tension between lower-level coping mechanisms and higher-level affective and cognitive functioning. In this way, we establish both commonalities and differences between musical responses and soundscapes. Future research will allow this understanding to grow and be refined further.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Welch
- Audiology Section, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland 2011, New Zealand
| | - Mark Reybrouck
- Faculty of Arts, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Art History, Musicology and Theater Studies, IPEM Institute for Psychoacoustics and Electronic Music, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Piotr Podlipniak
- Institute of Musicology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 61-712 Poznan, Poland
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Özcan E, Broekmeulen CLH, Luck ZA, van Velzen M, Stappers PJ, Edworthy JR. Acoustic Biotopes, Listeners and Sound-Induced Action: A Case Study of Operating Rooms. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16674. [PMID: 36554556 PMCID: PMC9779544 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192416674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
As socio-technological environments shape and direct listener behaviour, an ecological account is needed that encompasses listening in complexity (i.e., multiple listeners, multiple sounds and their sources, and multiple sound-induced actions that ensure the success of a mission). In this study, we explored sound-induced action under the framework of "acoustic biotopes" (a notion of ecological acoustics by Smolders, Aertsen, and Johanessma, 1979 and 1982) in a specific socio-technological environment, i.e., the context of an orthopaedic operating room. Our approach is based on literature research into the topics of environmental psychology and auditory perception and action and in situ observations in healthcare with field recordings, participatory observations, and interviews on the spot. The results suggest a human-centered definition of sound-induced action in acoustic biotopes: Acoustic biotope is an active and shared sound environment with entangled interactions and sound-induced actions taking place in a specific space that has a critical function. Listening in highly functional environments is an individual experience and is influenced by hearing function, physical position and role in an environment, and the task at hand. There is a range of active and passive sound listeners as a function of their attentive state and listeners as sound sources within the acoustic biotope. There are many different sound sources and sound locals in socio-technological environments and sounds have great potential to serve critical information to operators. Overall, our study provides a holistic, multi-layered and yet a listener-centric view on the organisation of complex spaces and the results can immediately be applicable for rethinking the acoustic environment for ORs for better listening and sound-induced action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Özcan
- Critical Alarms Lab, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis L. H. Broekmeulen
- Critical Alarms Lab, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Zoe Alexandra Luck
- Critical Alarms Lab, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Monique van Velzen
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter Jan Stappers
- Department of Human-Centered Design, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands
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Effects of Forest on Birdsong and Human Acoustic Perception in Urban Parks: A Case Study in Nigeria. FORESTS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/f13070994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
The quality of the natural sound environment is important for the well-being of humans and for urban sustainability. Therefore, it is important to study how the soundscape of the natural environment affects humans with respect to the different densities of vegetation, and how this affects the frequency of singing events and the sound pressure levels of common birds that generate natural sounds in a commonly visited urban park in Abuja, Nigeria. This study involves the recording of birdsongs, the measurement of sound pressure levels, and a questionnaire evaluation of sound perception and the degree of acoustic comfort in the park. Acoustic comfort, which affects humans, describes the fundamental feelings of users towards the acoustic environment. The results show that first, there is a significant difference between the frequency of singing events of birds for each category of vegetation density (low, medium, and high density) under cloudy and sunny weather conditions, but there is no significant difference during rainy weather. Secondly, the measured sound pressure levels of the birdsongs are affected by vegetation density. This study shows a significant difference between the sound pressure levels of birdsongs and the vegetation density under cloudy, sunny, and rainy weather conditions. In addition, the frequency of singing events of birds is affected by the sound pressure levels of birdsongs with respect to different vegetation densities under different weather conditions. Thirdly, the results from the respondents (N = 160) in this study indicated that the acoustic perception of the park was described as being pleasant, vibrant, eventful, calming, and not considered to be chaotic or annoying in any sense. It also shows that the human perception of birdsong in the park was moderately to strongly correlated with different densities of vegetation, and that demographics play an important role in how natural sounds are perceived in the environment under different weather conditions.
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Kosters J, Janus SIM, Van Den Bosch KA, Zuidema S, Luijendijk HJ, Andringa TC. Soundscape Optimization in Nursing Homes Through Raising Awareness in Nursing Staff With MoSART. Front Psychol 2022; 13:871647. [PMID: 35719498 PMCID: PMC9199855 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.871647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Soundscapes in nursing homes are often suboptimal for residents. This can cause them feeling anxious and unsafe, or develop behavioral and psychological problems. Residents with dementia cannot adapt nursing home environments to their needs due to cognitive and physical limitations. It is up to the staff of psycho-geriatric wards to improve the soundscape. We evaluated the effect of the sound awareness intervention Mobile Soundscape Appraisal and Recording Technology (MoSART+) on soundscapes in nursing homes. Methods The MoSART+ intervention was carried out in four nursing homes and took three months in each home. The MoSART+ intervention involved training ambassadors, assessing the soundscape with the MoSART application by the nursing staff to raise their sound awareness on random time points, discussing the measurements, and implementing micro-interventions. Soundscapes were assessed from 0 to 100 on four attributes: pleasantness, eventfulness, complexity, and range of affordances. Based on these scores, soundscapes were classified in four dimensions: calm, lively, boring, and chaotic. Nursing staff graded the environment on a scale of 0 to 10. T-test and Z-tests were used to analyze data. Results Staff recorded 1882 measurements with the MoSART app. "People," "music, TV, and radio," and "machines and appliances" were the most prevalent sound sources before and after the implementation of micro-interventions. Post-implementation of micro-interventions, soundscapes were pleasant (median 69.0; IQR 54.0-81.0), of low complexity (33.0; 18.0-47.0), uneventful (27.0; 14.0-46.5), and gave moderate affordances (50.0; 35.0-67.0). Changes in attributes were statistically significant (p < 0.01). The proportion of the dimension calm increased (z = 12.7, p < 0.01), the proportion of chaotic decreased (z = 15.0, p < 0.01), and the proportion of lively decreased not statically significant (z = 0.68, p = 0.79). The proportion of boring was unchanged. The proportion of grades ≥6 increased after implementation of the micro-interventions (z = 15.3, p < 0.01). The micro-interventions focused on removing or reducing disturbing sounds and were unique for each nursing home. Discussion The MoSART+ intervention resulted in a statistically significantly improvement of soundscapes, and more favorable evaluations of the nursing staff. The intervention empowered staff to adapt soundscapes. Nursing homes can improve soundscapes by raising sound awareness among staff. Trial Registration Netherlands National Trial Register (NL6831).
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Affiliation(s)
- Janouk Kosters
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Sarah I. M. Janus
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Sytse Zuidema
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Hendrika J. Luijendijk
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd C. Andringa
- Department of General Practice and Elderly Care, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- SoundAppraisal BV, Groningen, Netherlands
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Lennie TM, Eerola T. The CODA Model: A Review and Skeptical Extension of the Constructionist Model of Emotional Episodes Induced by Music. Front Psychol 2022; 13:822264. [PMID: 35496245 PMCID: PMC9043863 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.822264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper discusses contemporary advancements in the affective sciences (described together as skeptical theories) that can inform the music-emotion literature. Key concepts in these theories are outlined, highlighting their points of agreement and disagreement. This summary shows the importance of appraisal within the emotion process, provides a greater emphasis upon goal-directed accounts of (emotion) behavior, and a need to move away from discrete emotion “folk” concepts and toward the study of an emotional episode and its components. Consequently, three contemporary music emotion theories (BRECVEMA, Multifactorial Process Approach, and a Constructionist Account) are examined through a skeptical lens. This critique highlights the over-reliance upon categorization and a lack of acknowledgment of appraisal processes, specifically goal-directed appraisal, in examining how individual experiences of music emerge in different contexts. Based on this critique of current music-emotion models, we present our skeptically informed CODA model - Constructivistly-Organised Dimensional-Appraisal model. This model addresses skeptical limitations of existing theories, reinstates the role of goal-directed appraisal as central to what makes music relevant and meaningful to an individual in different contexts and brings together different theoretical frameworks into a single model. From the development of the CODA model, several hypotheses are proposed and applied to musical contexts. These hypotheses address theoretical issues such as acknowledging individual and contextual differences in emotional intensity and valence, as well as differentiating between induced and perceived emotions, and utilitarian and aesthetic emotions. We conclude with a sections of recommendations for future research. Altogether, this theoretical critique and proposed model points toward a positive future direction for music-emotion science. One where researchers can take forward testable predictions about what makes music relevant and meaningful to an individual.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Lennie
- Department of Music, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
| | - Tuomas Eerola
- Department of Music, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
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10
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Fiľo P, Janoušek O. Differences in the Course of Physiological Functions and in Subjective Evaluations in Connection With Listening to the Sound of a Chainsaw and to the Sounds of a Forest. Front Psychol 2022; 13:775173. [PMID: 35265000 PMCID: PMC8900745 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.775173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored differences in the course of physiological functions and in the subjective evaluations in response to listening to a 7-min recording of the sound of a chainsaw and to the sounds of a forest. A Biofeedback 2000x-pert apparatus was used for continual recording of the following physiological functions in 50 examined persons: abdominal and thoracic respiration and their amplitude and frequency, electrodermal activity (skin conductance level), finger skin temperature, heart rate (pulse, blood volume pulse and blood volume pulse amplitude) and heart rate variability (HRV). The group of 25 subjects listening to the sound of a chainsaw exhibited significantly lower values of blood volume pulse amplitude, lower values in peak alpha frequency HRV and higher values in peak high-frequency HRV. In the time interval from 80 s to 209 s, in which the two groups showed the greatest differences, lower values of blood volume pulse were also recorded while listening to the sound of a chainsaw. Listening to the sound of a chainsaw is associated with a greater feeling of fatigue and higher tension, while listening to the sounds of a forest is even considered to elicit feelings of improved learning abilities. The assumption that listening to the sound of a chainsaw results in higher defense arousal was confirmed. The greater variability which is exhibited by a majority of physiological functions while listening to the forest sounds may also be an innovative finding. It seems that there are two types of arousal (sympathetic and parasympathetic) following from correlations between physiological functions and subjective assessment. Low values of blood volume pulse amplitude are especially important from the health perspective. They correspond to the amount of vasoconstriction which occurs in the endothelial dysfunction related to increased mortality, incidence of myocardial infarction, leg atherosclerosis and topically to COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Fiľo
- Department of Social Sciences and Sport Management, Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Oto Janoušek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication, Brno University of Technology, Brno, Czechia
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11
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Kogan P, Gale T, Arenas JP, Arias C. Development and application of practical criteria for the recognition of potential Health Restoration Soundscapes (HeReS) in urban greenspaces. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 793:148541. [PMID: 34182456 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Urban greenspace soundscapes can contribute to the restorative effects that nature provides for the psychological and emotional health of people when certain conditions are met. The main objective of this paper is to propose practical criteria to help planners and managers in the design, development and preservation of urban greenspaces whose soundscapes may contribute to the renewal of health. Systematic literature review informed a conceptual potential Health Restoration Soundscapes (HeReS) model, based on five conditions: (1) Naturalness, (2) Sound Levels, (3) Perceived Sound Sources, (4) Soundscape Assessment, and (5) Sensescape Coherence and proposed Health Restoration Soundscapes Criteria (HeReS-C), for HeReS evaluation in urban green areas. The HeReS-C were applied in 21 sites in Argentina, Sweden, and Chile. General results are provided for all 21 sites, along with three in-depth profiles of HeReS-C applications that provide case studies across a range of resulting HeReS-C scenarios, including sites that meet the HeReS-C criteria, those that do not, and sites that could qualify in the future, if appropriate management measures are taken. HeReS-C showed to be a promising tool for the recognition of potential health-restoring soundscapes in urban greenspaces; informing their design and management to favor the well-being and health of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Kogan
- Department of Sound, Faculty of Arts, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Trace Gale
- Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP), Coyhaique, Chile.
| | - Jorge P Arenas
- Institute of Acoustics, University Austral of Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
| | - Claudia Arias
- Centro de Investigación y Transferencia en Acústica (CINTRA), UTN-FRC, CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina.
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12
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Denham FC, Andringa TC. Coping and Co-creation: One Attempt and One Route to Well-being. Part 2. Application to Identity and Social Well-being. PSYCHOLOGY IN RUSSIA: STATE OF ART 2021; 14:217-243. [PMID: 36733539 PMCID: PMC9888050 DOI: 10.11621/pir.2021.0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This is the application part of a two-part paper that starts from the assumption that core cognition for promoting agent well-being is shared by all living beings. In Part 1, we derived a number of key terms of core cognition and two behavioral ontologies: coping and co-creation. Objective Our first aim is to extend the conceptual framework and two behavioral ontologies, while explaining, from first principles, the observed basic structure in identity development. The second is to apply core cognition on a metatheoretical level to explain how the two theories about fostering well-being show the characteristic features of our two behavioral ontologies. Results We demonstrate that the four different combinations of coping, co-creation, adequacy, and inadequacy explain from first principles the underlying structure of identity. Among other things, these accurately leads us to the defining features of authoritarianism. The notion of ontological security, as it is known in the literature, accurately describes the coping mode's restricted capacity for the creation and protection of well-being. Ontological security leads to a self-limiting form of well-being that has been described as "abnormal normality." In contrast, psychological safety provides the preconditions for high wellbeing and a safe environment, thus promoting the healthy development of coping and co-creation adequacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tjeerd C. Andringa
- University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands,* Corresponding author. E-mail:
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13
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Kosters J, Kunz M, van den Bosch KA, Andringa TC, Zuidema SU, Luijendijk HJ, Janus SIM. Validation of a modified ambiance scale in nursing homes. Aging Ment Health 2021; 25:1535-1541. [PMID: 32242745 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2020.1747049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We translated and modified an ambiance scale for use by (in)formal caregivers in Dutch nursing homes. We tested validity and reliability of the modified Ambiance Scale. METHOD Convenience sampling was used to enrol (in)formal caregivers in three nursing homes in the Netherlands. 104 questionnaires were filled in; 45 by informal caregivers, 46 by formal caregivers. Ten caregivers filled in the questionnaire twice for test-retest purposes. Three original items were used, and seven newly were added to form the modified Ambiance Scale. Each item consisted of an adjective pair assessing an aspect of ambiance on a scale of 1 (homelike) to 5 (institutional). Caregivers filled in the questionnaire on two different days to assess intra rater reliability. Differences in scoring between formal and informal caregivers and between original and new items were analyzed. RESULTS The questionnaire was easy to comprehend and fill in. Internal consistency was good (a = 0.93). Validity was found to be good. Factor analysis demonstrated that eight items identified as one factor. No differences in scoring between the first and second assessment were found (p<.001). Formal caregivers scored ambiance more chaotic than informal caregivers did (p<.01). No differences in scoring between original and new items were found (p =.06). CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the modified Ambiance Scale had good internal consistency, moderate replicability and both informal and formal caregivers' overall ratings were comparable. The modified Ambiance Scale is a valid, reliable and easy to use tool to assess ambiance in nursing home settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janouk Kosters
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Miriam Kunz
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Psychology and Sociology, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | | | - Tjeerd C Andringa
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,SoundAppraisal Ltd, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sytse U Zuidema
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrika J Luijendijk
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah I M Janus
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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14
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Andringa TC, Denham FC. Coping and Co-creation: One Attempt and One Route to Well-Being. Part 1. Conceptual Framework. PSYCHOLOGY IN RUSSIA: STATE OF ART 2021; 14:152-170. [PMID: 36810996 PMCID: PMC9939033 DOI: 10.11621/pir2021.0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background All life strives to be well, but not all life is well. This suggests that cognition aimed at improving and protecting well-being might share a common core across all life forms: core cognition. Objective In this first of a two-part theoretical article, we systematically specify the evolutionary core cognition of well-being from the perspective of general living agents. In Part 2 we apply this to identity development and the theoretical approaches to well-being. This first part aims to identify the strategies and conditions for the creation and protection of generalized well-being and describes associated behavioral ontologies. Results We defined a set of key terms that, together, specify core cognition. This set comprises quite naturally concepts like agency, behavior, need satisfaction, intelligence, authority, power, and wisdom, which are all derived from the defining properties of life. We derived coping and co-creation as two essentially different, but complementary, behavioral ontologies. Copingis for survival and targeted problem solving and aims to end the need for its activation. Co-creation is for thriving and problem prevention and aims to perpetuate its activation. Co-creation can explain the growth of the biosphere. While both strategies are essential, the successful interplay of their strengths leads to the dominance of one of them: co-creation. Absence of success leads to a dominance of coping: a coping-trap and a strong urge to curtail behavioral diversity. We summarize the key terms of core cognition and the ontologies in two tables with defined terms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjeerd C. Andringa
- University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands,* Corresponding author. E-mail:
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15
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Thinking Outside the Park: Connecting Visitors’ Sound Affect in a Nature-Based Tourism Setting with Perceptions of Their Urban Home and Work Soundscapes. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13126572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the potential for Perceived Affective Quality (PAQ; pleasantness, eventfulness, familiarity) soundscape measures developed within urban settings to enrich current soundscape management approaches within protected areas (PAs). Drawing on the premise that people bring experiences from other life contexts into PA settings and PA visitors are increasingly coming from urban areas, research integrated urban visitors’ soundscape perceptions of their home and work acoustic environments with their perceptions of acoustic environments in PAs. Two-phased survey research (n = 333) separated visitors into urban density groups and compared PAQ variables across home, work, and PA contexts. Significant differences resulted, both in ratings of the three acoustic contexts (PA, home, work) for all three PAQ components and between urban density groups. The importance of pleasantness was confirmed across all contexts; however, alone, this dimension lacked sufficient contrast to interpret the complexity of soundscape perceptions, especially considering diverse Healthy Parks, Healthy People (HPHP) visitor experience scenarios and goals. Thus, managers should consider (1) additional PAQ variables that can provide more useful and contrasting information; (2) incorporating methods that integrate PAQ measures across visitors’ different acoustic contexts, and (3) including urban density measures within HPHP research.
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16
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Fiebig A, Jordan P, Moshona CC. Assessments of Acoustic Environments by Emotions - The Application of Emotion Theory in Soundscape. Front Psychol 2020; 11:573041. [PMID: 33329214 PMCID: PMC7718000 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.573041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human beings respond to their immediate environments in a variety of ways, with emotion playing a cardinal role. In evolutionary theories, emotions are thought to prepare an organism for action. The interplay of acoustic environments, emotions, and evolutionary needs are currently subject to discussion in soundscape research. Universal definitions of emotion and its nature are currently missing, but there seems to be a fundamental consensus that emotions are internal, evanescent, mostly conscious, relational, manifest in different forms, and serve a purpose. Research in this area is expanding, particularly in regards to the context-related, affective, and emotional processing of environmental stimuli. A number of studies present ways to determine the nature of emotions elicited by a soundscape and to measure these reliably. Yet the crucial question—which basic and complex emotions are triggered and how they relate to affective appraisal—has still not been conclusively answered. To help frame research on this topic, an overview of the theoretical background is presented that applies emotion theory to soundscape. Two latent fundamental dimensions are often found at the center of theoretical concepts of emotion: valence and arousal. These established universal dimensions can also be applied in the context of emotions that are elicited by soundscapes. Another, and perhaps more familiar, parallel is found between emotion and music. However, acoustic environments are more subtle than musical arrangements, rarely applying the compositional and artistic considerations frequently used in music. That said, the measurement of emotion in the context of soundscape studies is only of additional value if some fundamental inquiries are sufficiently answered: To what extent does the reporting act itself alter emotional responses? Are all important affective qualities consciously accessible and directly measurable by self-reports? How can emotion related to the environment be separated from affective predisposition? By means of a conceptual analysis of relevant soundscape publications, the consensus and conflicts on these fundamental questions in the light of soundscape theory are highlighted and needed research actions are framed. The overview closes with a proposed modification to an existing, standardized framework to include the meaning of emotion in the design of soundscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Fiebig
- Engineering Acoustics, Institute of Fluid Dynamics and Technical Acoustics, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pamela Jordan
- Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cleopatra Christina Moshona
- Engineering Acoustics, Institute of Fluid Dynamics and Technical Acoustics, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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17
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Egner LE, Sütterlin S, Calogiuri G. Proposing a Framework for the Restorative Effects of Nature through Conditioning: Conditioned Restoration Theory. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E6792. [PMID: 32957693 PMCID: PMC7558998 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Natural environments have been shown to trigger psychological and physiological restoration in humans. A new framework regarding natural environments restorative properties is proposed. Conditioned restoration theory builds on a classical conditioning paradigm, postulating the occurrence of four stages: (i) unconditioned restoration, unconditioned positive affective responses reliably occur in a given environment (such as in a natural setting); (ii) restorative conditioning, the positive affective responses become conditioned to the environment; (iii) conditioned restoration, subsequent exposure to the environment, in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus, retrieves the same positive affective responses; and (iv) stimulus generalization, subsequent exposure to associated environmental cues retrieves the same positive affective responses. The process, hypothetically not unique to natural environments, involve the well-documented phenomenon of conditioning, retrieval, and association and relies on evaluative conditioning, classical conditioning, core affect, and conscious expectancy. Empirical findings showing that restoration can occur in non-natural environments and through various sensory stimuli, as well as findings demonstrating that previous negative experience with nature can subsequently lower restorative effects, are also presented in support of the theory. In integration with other existing theories, the theory should prove to be a valuable framework for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Even Egner
- Citizens, Environment and Safety, Institute of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7048 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Stefan Sütterlin
- Faculty of Health and Welfare Sciences, Østfold University College, 1757 Halden, Norway;
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
| | - Giovanna Calogiuri
- Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3045 Drammen, Norway;
- Department of Public Health and Sport Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2411 Elverum, Norway
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18
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Reybrouck M, Podlipniak P, Welch D. Music Listening as Coping Behavior: From Reactive Response to Sense-Making. Behav Sci (Basel) 2020; 10:E119. [PMID: 32698450 PMCID: PMC7407588 DOI: 10.3390/bs10070119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Coping is a survival mechanism of living organisms. It is not merely reactive, but also involves making sense of the environment by rendering sensory information into percepts that have meaning in the context of an organism's cognitions. Music listening, on the other hand, is a complex task that embraces sensory, physiological, behavioral, and cognitive levels of processing. Being both a dispositional process that relies on our evolutionary toolkit for coping with the world and a more elaborated skill for sense-making, it goes beyond primitive action-reaction couplings by the introduction of higher-order intermediary variables between sensory input and effector reactions. Consideration of music-listening from the perspective of coping treats music as a sound environment and listening as a process that involves exploration of this environment as well as interactions with the sounds. Several issues are considered in this regard such as the conception of music as a possible stressor, the role of adaptive listening, the relation between coping and reward, the importance of self-regulation strategies in the selection of music, and the instrumental meaning of music in the sense that it can be used to modify the internal and external environment of the listener.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Reybrouck
- Musicology Research Group, Faculty of Arts, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- IPEM, Department of Art History, Musicology and Theatre Studies, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Piotr Podlipniak
- Institute of Musicology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 61–712 Poznań, Poland;
| | - David Welch
- Institute Audiology Section, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, 2011 Auckland, New Zealand;
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19
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Mahamane S, Wan N, Porter A, Hancock AS, Campbell J, Lyon TE, Jordan KE. Natural Categorization: Electrophysiological Responses to Viewing Natural Versus Built Environments. Front Psychol 2020; 11:990. [PMID: 32587543 PMCID: PMC7298107 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Environments are unique in terms of structural composition and evoked human experience. Previous studies suggest that natural compared to built environments may increase positive emotions. Humans in natural environments also demonstrate greater performance on attention-based tasks. Few studies have investigated cortical mechanisms underlying these phenomena or probed these differences from a neural perspective. Using a temporally sensitive electrophysiological approach, we employ an event-related, implicit passive viewing task to demonstrate that in humans, a greater late positive potential (LPP) occurs with exposure to built than natural environments, resulting in a faster return of activation to pre-stimulus baseline levels when viewing natural environments. Our research thus provides new evidence suggesting natural environments are perceived differently from built environments, converging with previous behavioral findings and theoretical assumptions from environmental psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salif Mahamane
- Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences, Western Colorado University, Gunnison, CO, United States
| | - Nick Wan
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Alexis Porter
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Allison S Hancock
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Justin Campbell
- MD-PhD Program, School of Medicine, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Thomas E Lyon
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Kerry E Jordan
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
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20
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Welch D, Shepherd D, Dirks K, Tan MY, Coad G. Use of Creative Writing to Develop a Semantic Differential Tool for Assessing Soundscapes. Front Psychol 2019; 9:2698. [PMID: 30804865 PMCID: PMC6370738 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploring our understanding of soundscapes to understand why and how sound impacts people is important. The aim of this study was to develop a short quantitative questionnaire that would use terms generated by creative writers to assess people’s experiences of a soundscape. This process may provide different items for the questionnaire and thus, potentially, different dimensions or fuller definitions of dimensions that have already been identified. In the preliminary phase, a group of people identifying themselves as good writers listened to recordings of natural, traffic, and human sound environments and wrote about their impressions and responses to each. Qualitative analysis was used to extract themes from the writing. These themes were identified by key words, and scalar items were developed to form a short 17-item questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered to 228 people in Auckland City, New Zealand, with participants recruited from city streets and in a central-city park. Respondents were comfortable to use the questionnaire. Factor analysis revealed patterns of responding with five dimensions: Calming, Protecting, Hectic, Belonging, and Stability. There were correspondences between these and others previously reported in the literature, as well as differences. The use of items derived from creative writing provided interesting insights into the soundscape, including spirituality, the sense of time passing, and physical wellbeing. The park soundscape was measurably better than the street soundscapes on all dimensions, and streets with less vehicular traffic tended to be experienced as more Calming and Protecting, and less Hectic. This implies that there is validity in the scales generated. In future, it would be valuable to test the questionnaire in more varied environments, to add greater variability to the soundscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Welch
- School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Daniel Shepherd
- Department of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kim Dirks
- School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Mei Yen Tan
- School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Bay Audiology Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gavin Coad
- School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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