Attention Restoration Space on a University Campus: Exploring Restorative Campus Design Based on Environmental Preferences of Students.

Ming Lu,Jingwan Fu

doi:10.3390/ijerph16142629

Abstract

Students studying for a long time frequently suffer from attentional fatigue; however, campuses lack specific spaces in which to restore attention. This study aimed to explore the significant perceptual factors related to student selection of landscape types that they perceive as most relaxing on a university campus. To understand the design factors of an attention restoration space, this study examined the preference of students regarding restorative environments on university campuses at six universities in northeastern China using a questionnaire survey (n = 360). Place-mapping revealed the spatial characteristics of the preferences of students for relaxing in the available space. The primary perceptual factors were obtained using correlation analysis and keyword frequency. A relationship model of landscape types and perceptual factors was established using categorical regression (CATREG). Results showed that waterfront spaces have the optimal perceived attention restoration effect, followed by vegetation spaces, courtyard spaces and square spaces. Visibility, accessibility, comfort, recognition and sense of belonging are significant perceptual factors that should be first considered. Moreover, the optimal selection of design factors depends on the interaction of landscape types and perceptual factors. The design implications may assist designers to gain a new perspective on student requirements for a healthy environment.

Highlights

University students spend most of their time studying on campus, which requires effort and may cause attention fatigue
attention restoration theory (ART) was applied on a modified scale through perceptual factors to investigate perceived restorative spaces
The categorical regression (CATREG) model was used as a quantitative analysis approach to identify the relationship between landscape types and perceptual factors

Summary

Introduction

University students spend most of their time studying on campus, which requires effort and may cause attention fatigue. Reports of universities and colleges worldwide indicate the outbreak of mental health problems among college students. According to data statistics from the United States in the autumn of 2018, approximately 12.5% of 26,181 college students at 40 universities felt tired, stressed out or sleepy during the previous 7 days [1] and 29.5% of them had experienced overwhelming anxiety over the previous two weeks [2]. To provide students with an effective approach to appropriately alleviate mental fatigue is a pressing concern. To restore attention through the exposure to the environment is one effective approach [4]

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