Soundscapes and human restoration in green urban areas

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the association between landscapes, green and blue space, open countryside and human well-being, quality of life, and health. Most studies in this field do not account for the positive or negative moderating effects of the acoustic environment. This is partly due to the lack of relevant data, although basic models do refer to the role of traffic related noise and air-pollution. This paper reports on the results of a European study (Phenotype) into the health effect of access to and use of green area in four European cities. At the four study centers, people were selected from neighborhoods with varying levels of socioeconomic status and green space. By structured interview, information was gathered about availability, use, and importance of green space in the immediate environment, as well as the sound quality of favorite green areas used for physical activity, social encounters, and relaxation. Data are also available about perceived mental and physical health and medication use. This allows for analyzing the association between indicators of green and health, while accounting for perceived soundscapes. Audit data about the sound quality are also available at neighborhood level as a point of reference.