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

Author

Listed:
  • Kati Pitkänen

    (Environmental Policy Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, PO Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland)

  • Jenni Lehtimäki

    (Environmental Policy Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, FIN-00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Riikka Puhakka

    (Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Niemenkatu 73, FIN-15140 Lahti, Finland)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Kati Pitkänen & Jenni Lehtimäki & Riikka Puhakka, 2020. "How do Rural Second Homes Affect Human Health and Well-being? Review of Potential Impacts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6748-:d:414450
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Allison Williams & Peter Kitchen, 2012. "Sense of Place and Health in Hamilton, Ontario: A Case Study," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 108(2), pages 257-276, September.
    2. Mike Rogerson & Carly Wood & Jules Pretty & Patrick Schoenmakers & Dan Bloomfield & Jo Barton, 2020. "Regular Doses of Nature: The Efficacy of Green Exercise Interventions for Mental Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Lucy E. Keniger & Kevin J. Gaston & Katherine N. Irvine & Richard A. Fuller, 2013. "What are the Benefits of Interacting with Nature?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Anni Huhtala & Tuija Lankia, 2012. "Valuation of trips to second homes: do environmental attributes matter?," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(6), pages 733-752, September.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mengyuan Qiu & Ji Sha & Noel Scott, 2021. "Restoration of Visitors through Nature-Based Tourism: A Systematic Review, Conceptual Framework, and Future Research Directions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Guoliang Xu & Longchao Xu & Li Jia, 2022. "Research on Mortality Risk of Chinese Older Adults from the Perspective of Social Health," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Mika Saarenpää & Marja I. Roslund & Riikka Puhakka & Mira Grönroos & Anirudra Parajuli & Nan Hui & Noora Nurminen & Olli H. Laitinen & Heikki Hyöty & Ondrej Cinek & Aki Sinkkonen & the ADELE Research , 2021. "Do Rural Second Homes Shape Commensal Microbiota of Urban Dwellers? A Pilot Study among Urban Elderly in Finland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Yaqing Gao & Xiaoyi Mi & Yinping Wang & Siyu Zou & Hong Zhou, 2021. "Association between Household Crowding and Violent Discipline and Neglect of Children: Analysis of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in 26 Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.

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