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Exploring the Relationship between Urban Quiet Areas and Perceived Restorative Benefits

Author

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  • Sarah R. Payne

    (The Urban Institute, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK)

  • Neil Bruce

    (The Urban Institute, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK)

Abstract

To help mitigate the adverse health impacts of environmental noise, European cities are recommended to identify urban quiet areas for preservation. Procedures for identifying urban quiet areas vary across cities and between countries, and little is known of the strength of the salutogenic (health-promoting) benefits they may provide. Taking a multi-site approach, this study examines the potential of three sites as urban quiet areas and their associated health benefits, particularly in relation to perceived restorative benefits. Across three cities in the United Kingdom, an urban garden, urban park, and an urban square had sound pressure levels measured. Responses from 151 visitors to these sites evaluated the place as quiet, calm, and tranquil, and assessed their experience of the place in terms of perceived sounds, its benefits, how it made them feel, and perceived restoration. Depending on the criteria used, the sites varied in their suitability as urban quiet areas, although all provided perceived health benefits. Relationships between sound levels (subjective and objective) and perceived restoration were not linear, with the type of sounds heard and other aspects of the place experience believed to affect the relationship. Building on this work, a future experimental approach based on the study sites is planned to manipulate the multiple variables involved. This will provide a clearer understanding of the relationship between urban quiet areas and perceived restorative benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Sarah R. Payne & Neil Bruce, 2019. "Exploring the Relationship between Urban Quiet Areas and Perceived Restorative Benefits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:9:p:1611-:d:229197
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Timothy Van Renterghem & Dick Botteldooren, 2012. "Focused Study on the Quiet Side Effect in Dwellings Highly Exposed to Road Traffic Noise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Yvonne De Kluizenaar & Sabine A. Janssen & Henk Vos & Erik M. Salomons & Han Zhou & Frits Van den Berg, 2013. "Road Traffic Noise and Annoyance: A Quantification of the Effect of Quiet Side Exposure at Dwellings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-13, June.
    3. Hester Booi & Frits Van den Berg, 2012. "Quiet Areas and the Need for Quietness in Amsterdam," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Francesco Aletta & Tin Oberman & Jian Kang, 2018. "Associations between Positive Health-Related Effects and Soundscapes Perceptual Constructs: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-15, October.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Francesco Aletta & Jian Kang, 2019. "Promoting Healthy and Supportive Acoustic Environments: Going beyond the Quietness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-4, December.
    3. Shilun Zhang & Xiaolong Zhao & Zixi Zeng & Xuan Qiu, 2019. "The Influence of Audio-Visual Interactions on Psychological Responses of Young People in Urban Green Areas: A Case Study in Two Parks in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Xinhui Fei & Yanqin Zhang & Deyi Kong & Qitang Huang & Minhua Wang & Jianwen Dong, 2023. "Quantitative Model Study of the Psychological Recovery Benefit of Landscape Environment Based on Eye Movement Tracking Technology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Trudeau, Christopher & King, Nicholas & Guastavino, Catherine, 2023. "Investigating sonic injustice: A review of published research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    6. Lawal M. Marafa & Zhe Wang & Felix K. H. Tsang, 2022. "Tranquillity in Urban Classical Chinese Gardens and Modern Parks: The Effect of Natural and Contextual Features," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-21, August.

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