Abstract
Several studies suggest that contact with natural environments enhance restoration of directed attention better than experience of other environments devoid of nature. This study attempts to validate the self-report measures of the components of a restorative environment and perceived stress through an exploratory study of the multi-stimulus Obudu mountain resort environment. Twenty-two respondents randomly co-opted at the study site had their perception of stress measured by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) while their perceived restoration was measured by the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS). Results indicate an acceptable stable and consistent coefficient alpha across the scores. We found that perceived stress is significantly related to fascination and age while being away, extent, compatibility and length of days were not significant. The results support the reliability and constructs of the PSS and the PRS in a mountain environment. The finding is a further indication of the universality of the underlying postulates behind restorative environments, human response and wellbeing.
Highlights
Researchers within the global north countries like the United States of America, Switzerland, Sweden and Greece have actively conducted studies on the psycho-physiological factors affecting stress and mental wellbeing [1]-[4]
To ascertain the universality of restorative environments, human response and wellbeing, it is imperative to experiment with samples from Africa in order to add to the existing body of knowledge
This study supports the reliability and constructs of the perceived stress scale (PSS) and the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS) in a mountain environment. This is because an acceptable coefficient of the PSS and the PRS exists
Summary
Researchers within the global north countries like the United States of America, Switzerland, Sweden and Greece have actively conducted studies on the psycho-physiological factors affecting stress and mental wellbeing [1]-[4]. These four components are regarded by researchers evaluating encounters with natural environments as being supportive of restorative and therapeutic effects on humans. Perceived stress [11] has been variously measured by researchers using the psychometric properties of the perceived stress scale (PSS) [12]-[14] as developed and validated by Cohen et al [15] Cohen and his group assert that levels of appraised stress should be influenced by daily hassles, major events, and changes in coping events. The authors regard the contact of respondents with the natural mountain environment as an experience specific event likely to influence the determination of perceived stress
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