The Effect Of Different Urban Landscape Types On Psychological Restoration Of The Elderly

The world is facing a challenge of aging populations,and health condition of the elderly has become an important factor affecting the development of a country.However,urbanization has resulted in increasing amounts of natural environments being replaced by built-up areas,and the living environment of residents has deteriorated rapidly due to air pollution and noise,which can cause urban inhabitants,especially the elderly,face serious physical and mental health problems.Urban natural environments,including green spaces and blue spaces,have been demonstrated to have great benefits to the mental restoration of the elderly.However,the study of the specific characteristics of urban natural environments that are popular and the most restorative for the elderly is still lacking.Photo elicitation as visual stimuli was utilized to explore the differences in preference and psychological restoration of the elderly among different types of urban environments(open green space,partly-closed green space,closed green space,blue space)through the perception of the eight perceived sensory dimensions(PSDs,including serene,nature,space,rich in species,refuge,culture,prospect,social).The results showed that:(1)The respondents had different perceptions of the eight PSDs in the different urban natural environments.In general,older people most frequently perceived the Serene dimension and least perceived the Social dimensions.(2)Blue space was the most preferred by the elderly,followed by partly-closed green space.Open green space and closed green space were less preferred.In addition,gender had significant effect on preference.Blue space was more preferred by female than male.(3)Partly-closed green space was the most restorative for the elderly,followed by blue space.Open green space and closed green space were less restorative.In addition,mental condition had significant effect on psychological restoration.Closed green space was more restorative for the elderly with good mental conditions than those who with bad mental conditions.(4)There was no significant correlation between the number of highly perceived PSDs and preference,as well as between the number of highly perceived PSDs and psychological restoration.However,there was a significant correlation between preference and psychological restoration.(5)Partly-closed green space with more Refuge and Serene qualities,and blue space with more Serene,Refuge and Prospect properties were optimal characteristics for psychological restoration of the elderly.In addition,open green space with more Prospect,Serene and Social qualities,and closed green space with more Space,Refuge and less Nature properties could also increase psychological restoration of older adults.These findings indicate the optimal landscape characteristics for the elderly,which can provide useful guidelines for restorative environmental design for the elderly in the future.