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Listening to Forests: Comparing the Perceived Restorative Characteristics of Natural Soundscapes before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Mengyuan Qiu

    (College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China)

  • Ji Sha

    (Jiangsu Vocational Institute of Commerce, Nanjing 211168, China
    Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia)

  • Sulistyo Utomo

    (Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia)

Abstract

Natural sounds are known to contribute to health and well-being. However, few studies have investigated what makes a natural sound renew and re-energize people, especially in the face of significant stressors caused by the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study examined the interactive mechanism towards the perceived restorative characteristics of natural soundscapes: fascination, being-away, compatibility, and extent. Two groups of data were collected in Burleigh Heads National Park, Australia, before the outbreak of COVID-19 (n = 526) and in October 2020 (n = 371). The objective measures of L Aeq confirmed that the acoustic environment of Burleigh Heads National Park are quiet and peaceful for attention restoration. The results of the subject evaluation revealed that participants from the post-COVID-19 group reported higher stress levels, while there was a greater mental restoration through water sounds. There are significant differences between the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups with respect to the relationships among the perceived restorative characteristics of natural soundscapes. The direct effects of extent and fascination, as well as the mediating effects of fascination, were more significant among the post-COVID-19 group than the pre-COVID-19 group. However, the effects of being-away on compatibility were less significant in the post-COVID-19 group. This study reduces the gap that exists on the research of environment–people–health–wellbeing nexus. Knowledge about natural soundscapes encourages administrations to consider it as a guideline for the planning and management of natural resources, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengyuan Qiu & Ji Sha & Sulistyo Utomo, 2020. "Listening to Forests: Comparing the Perceived Restorative Characteristics of Natural Soundscapes before and after the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2020:i:1:p:293-:d:472612
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.

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