Potential health benefits of nature-based interventions in the work environment during winter: A case study

• Katinka H. Evensen ^[1] ; Ruth K. Raanaas ^[1] ; Grete G. Patil ^[1]
  1. [1] Norwegian University of Life Sciences

     Norwegian University of Life Sciences

     Noruega

     
• Localización: PsyEcology: Bilingual Journal of Environmental Psychology / Revista Bilingüe de Psicología Ambiental, ISSN-e 1989-9386, ISSN 2171-1976, Vol. 4, Nº. Extra 1, 2013 (Ejemplar dedicado a: Environment and the workplace. Introduction Número especial: Medio ambiente y contextos laborales. Introducción), págs. 67-88
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.1174/217119713805088315
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Posibles beneficios sobre la salud de la introducción de elementos naturales en el ambiente de trabajo durante el invierno: Un estudio de caso
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    Cada vez más estudios empíricos confirman los beneficios psicológicos de la introducción de elementos naturales en espacios cerrados. El presente artículo investiga de qué manera la instalación de elementos naturales en el entorno laboral puede compensar la falta de exposición a la naturaleza y a la luz solar en la época invernal, y mitigar las variaciones estacionales en la percepción de las personas de su salud y su bienestar. Presentamos aquí un estudio de caso de una intervención estratégica de un año de duración en un ambiente laboral, en el que se introdujeron plantas de interior y sistemas de iluminación que imitan la luz solar. Al cabo de un año se encontraron muestras de que las quejas sobre la salud manifestadas por los participantes del grupo de intervención, comparado con los participantes del grupo control, se redujeron, confirmando que las intervenciones basadas en la introducción de elementos naturales tienen ventajas en la promoción de la salud. Se recomienda que en el futuro se realicen estudios que investiguen cómo un diseño de oficinas que emplee elementos naturales puede aliviar los problemas de salud asociados al cambio de estación.

  • English

    Psychological benefits of bringing nature elements indoors find support in a growing number of empirical studies. The present paper focuses on how nature-based installations in the work environment may compensate for lack of nature and daylight exposure during the winter season and have a potential for alleviating seasonal variation in self-perceived health and well-being. A case study of a full-year strategic work environment intervention including indoor plants and daylight simulation is presented. Indications of reduction of reported health complaints after one year with the intervention among the intervention group compared to the control group, gives support to health promoting advantages of nature-based interventions. Further studies on how office design with the use of nature elements can alleviate season-bound health problems are recommended.

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