The Role of Soundscape in Nature-Based Rehabilitation: A Patient Perspective
Nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) has convincing support in research, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study sought to increase understanding of the role of soundscapes in NBR, an aspect paid little attention thus far. Transcribed interviews with 59 patients suffer...
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doaj-0239ec9553164a0ba1af5b0d97844a992020-11-24T23:37:02ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012016-12-011312122910.3390/ijerph13121229ijerph13121229The Role of Soundscape in Nature-Based Rehabilitation: A Patient PerspectiveGunnar Cerwén0Eja Pedersen1Anna-María Pálsdóttir2Department of Landscape Architecture, Planning and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, SE-230 53 Alnarp, SwedenEnvironmental Psychology, Department of Architecture and Built Environment, LTH, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, SwedenDepartment of Work Science, Business Economics and Environmental Psychology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, SE-230 53 Alnarp, SwedenNature-based rehabilitation (NBR) has convincing support in research, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study sought to increase understanding of the role of soundscapes in NBR, an aspect paid little attention thus far. Transcribed interviews with 59 patients suffering from stress-related mental disorders and undergoing a 12-week therapy programme in the rehabilitation garden in Alnarp, Sweden, were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenology Analysis (IPA). Described sounds were categorised as natural, technological or human. The results showed that patients frequently referred to natural sounds as being part of a pleasant and “quiet” experience that supported recovery and induced “soft fascination”. Technological sounds were experienced as disturbing, while perception of human sounds varied depending on loudness and the social context. The study further uncovered how sound influenced patients’ behaviour and experiences in the garden, through examination of three cross-theme dimensions that materialised in the study; sound in relation to overall perception, sound in relation to garden usage, and increased susceptibility to sound. The findings are discussed in relation to NBR; the need for a more nuanced understanding of susceptibility to sound among people suffering from mental fatigue was identified and design considerations for future rehabilitation gardens were formulated.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/12/1229garden therapysoundscapedesignhealthmental restorationnature-based rehabilitationsoft fascinationhorticulture therapytherapeutic landscape |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Gunnar Cerwén Eja Pedersen Anna-María Pálsdóttir |
spellingShingle |
Gunnar Cerwén Eja Pedersen Anna-María Pálsdóttir The Role of Soundscape in Nature-Based Rehabilitation: A Patient Perspective International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health garden therapy soundscape design health mental restoration nature-based rehabilitation soft fascination horticulture therapy therapeutic landscape |
author_facet |
Gunnar Cerwén Eja Pedersen Anna-María Pálsdóttir |
author_sort |
Gunnar Cerwén |
title |
The Role of Soundscape in Nature-Based Rehabilitation: A Patient Perspective |
title_short |
The Role of Soundscape in Nature-Based Rehabilitation: A Patient Perspective |
title_full |
The Role of Soundscape in Nature-Based Rehabilitation: A Patient Perspective |
title_fullStr |
The Role of Soundscape in Nature-Based Rehabilitation: A Patient Perspective |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Role of Soundscape in Nature-Based Rehabilitation: A Patient Perspective |
title_sort |
role of soundscape in nature-based rehabilitation: a patient perspective |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2016-12-01 |
description |
Nature-based rehabilitation (NBR) has convincing support in research, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The present study sought to increase understanding of the role of soundscapes in NBR, an aspect paid little attention thus far. Transcribed interviews with 59 patients suffering from stress-related mental disorders and undergoing a 12-week therapy programme in the rehabilitation garden in Alnarp, Sweden, were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenology Analysis (IPA). Described sounds were categorised as natural, technological or human. The results showed that patients frequently referred to natural sounds as being part of a pleasant and “quiet” experience that supported recovery and induced “soft fascination”. Technological sounds were experienced as disturbing, while perception of human sounds varied depending on loudness and the social context. The study further uncovered how sound influenced patients’ behaviour and experiences in the garden, through examination of three cross-theme dimensions that materialised in the study; sound in relation to overall perception, sound in relation to garden usage, and increased susceptibility to sound. The findings are discussed in relation to NBR; the need for a more nuanced understanding of susceptibility to sound among people suffering from mental fatigue was identified and design considerations for future rehabilitation gardens were formulated. |
topic |
garden therapy soundscape design health mental restoration nature-based rehabilitation soft fascination horticulture therapy therapeutic landscape |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/13/12/1229 |
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