Zusammenfassung
A growing body of literature indicates that contact with nature influence
people's health and psychological well-being both directly and by
moderating processes. A questionnaire study was conducted in urban
residential settings with high road-traffic noise exposure (LAeq,
24 h = 60–68 dB). Out of 500 residents, 367 lived in dwellings with
access to a quiet side (LAeq, 24 h ≤ 45 dB free field value; “noise/quiet”-condition)
and 133 had no access to a quiet side (“noise/noise”-condition).
The present paper examines whether perceived availability to nearby
green areas affects various aspects of well-being in these two noise-condition
groups. For both those with and without access to a quiet side, the
results show that “better” availability to nearby green areas is
important for their well-being and daily behavior by reducing long-term
noise annoyances and prevalence of stress-related psychosocial symptoms,
and by increasing the use of spaces outdoors. In the process of planning
health-promoting urban environments, it is essential to provide easy
access to nearby green areas that can offer relief from environmental
stress and opportunities for rest and relaxation, to strive for lower
sound levels from road traffic, as well as to design “noise-free”
sections indoors and outdoors.
Nutzer