How do Rural Second Homes Affect Human Health and Well-being? Review of Potential Impacts.

Kati Pitkänen,Jenni Lehtimäki,Riikka Puhakka

doi:10.3390/ijerph17186748

Abstract

Contact with nature is associated with numerous psychological, physiological and social health and well-being benefits. Outdoor recreation, such as rural second home tourism, provides extensive exposure to the natural environment, but research around health impacts of this exposure is scattered. We review current research on health and well-being impacts of nature and discuss how the characteristics of rural second home environments and their use and users can affect these potential impacts in Finland. We discover four key issues affecting the impacts. First, health and well-being impacts depend on the users; urban people can especially benefit from rural second homes, while child development and the performance of elderly people can also be supported by contact with nature at second homes. Second, the regularity, length and season of second home visits influence the potential to receive benefits as they have an impact on the intensity of nature exposure. Third, the type and quality of second home environment affect contact with nature, such as exposure to health-supporting environmental microbes. Fourth, practices, motives and meanings modify activities and attachment and crucially affect both physical and mental well-being. We conclude that rural second homes have extensive potential to provide nature-related health and well-being benefits and further research is needed.

Highlights

Research on the health and well-being benefits of nature has increased tremendously during recent years
To complement these findings, based on our review, we propose that the health and well-being benefits provided by second homes arise from the role of nature in enhancing attachment to place, possibilities for self-realization and finding a sense of meaning and continuity
This review has explored the potential health and well-being impacts of rural second homes

Summary

Introduction

Research on the health and well-being benefits of nature has increased tremendously during recent years. A variety of positive impacts of the exposure to nature has been shown, ranging from psychological and cognitive benefits to physiological and social benefits [1,2]. This has inspired researchers of outdoor recreation and leisure to begin to explore the health and well-being benefits of different outdoor activities. The benefits of outdoor recreation in more remote and rural locations have been studied in protected areas, for example [4]. That is owning and visiting a secondary residence for leisure purposes in a rural area, is a popular form of nature-based recreation in many countries all over the world

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Discussion

Conclusion