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Agnes E. Van Den Berg
University of Groningen

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Chapter
Published: 24 August 2021 in Nebraska Symposium on Motivation
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People tend to find natural environments more aesthetically appealing and restorative than human-made or built environments. It is widely assumed that this natural-built distinction in environmental preference and restoration stems to a large extent from bottom-up sensory processing of intrinsic characteristics of nature that may have signaled adaptive values during human evolution. This view of nature as a unique, irreplaceable source of health and well-being has motivated the greening of cities and other initiatives to reconnect people with nature. But how strong is the empirical support for a bottom-up account of positive responses to nature? This chapter critically reviews the empirical evidence in view of alternative explanations in terms of top-down influences of culturally transmitted views and personally learned positive experiences with nature. It is tentatively concluded that the available empirical evidence appears to be in favor of top-down, rather than bottom-up, accounts of the natural-built distinction in both environmental preferences and restorative effects. In accordance with recent insights relating to the immune system regulating functions of direct physical contact with nature, the chapter concludes with suggestions for future research focusing on top-down, resilience-building experiences with nature.

ACS Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg. The Natural-Built Distinction in Environmental Preference and Restoration: Bottom-Up and Top-Down Explanations. Nebraska Symposium on Motivation 2021, 31 -60.

AMA Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg. The Natural-Built Distinction in Environmental Preference and Restoration: Bottom-Up and Top-Down Explanations. Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. 2021; ():31-60.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg. 2021. "The Natural-Built Distinction in Environmental Preference and Restoration: Bottom-Up and Top-Down Explanations." Nebraska Symposium on Motivation , no. : 31-60.

Journal article
Published: 18 June 2021 in Journal of Environmental Psychology
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Mental health problems are considered to represent the most frequent noncommunicable diseases in modern times. A growing field is now investigating the implementation of nature exposure in mental health care interventions. The present study investigated a walk and talk coaching program of approximately 12–18 weeks, in which coach and client go outside in a natural setting. Forty participants (31 females) with burnout- and stress-related complaints entered the study, half of them followed the walk and talk program and the other half were in the (passive) control group. Stress and burnout related symptoms and health and wellbeing were measured at baseline, mid-term, and post-intervention. Evaluative questions were added to measure participants’ experiences with the program as well as their experiences with the natural setting. Results show that participants in the walk and talk group improved more on burnout, stress symptoms, general mental health, and wellbeing than those in the control group. These improvements were most pronounced at the post-intervention measurement, but some effects were already visible at mid-term. Participants also evaluated the program positively. The majority of participants indicated to have experienced added benefits of the natural setting.

ACS Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg; Femke Beute. Walk it off! The effectiveness of walk and talk coaching in nature for individuals with burnout- and stress-related complaints. Journal of Environmental Psychology 2021, 76, 101641 .

AMA Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg, Femke Beute. Walk it off! The effectiveness of walk and talk coaching in nature for individuals with burnout- and stress-related complaints. Journal of Environmental Psychology. 2021; 76 ():101641.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg; Femke Beute. 2021. "Walk it off! The effectiveness of walk and talk coaching in nature for individuals with burnout- and stress-related complaints." Journal of Environmental Psychology 76, no. : 101641.

Research article
Published: 04 September 2020 in Journal of Aging and Environment
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This research examined whether greening of a geriatric ward may reduce the hospital-induced decline in the independent functioning of elderly patients as measured by changes from admission to discharge in the KATZ-ADL6 and physician assessments at discharge. Using a quasi-experimental design with 4 months of pre- and post-tests, the functional decline in a sample of 54 hospitalized geriatric patients was found to be lower after greening than before greening for both measures. Moreover, an evaluative survey among 15 staff members showed that they appreciated the greening, and believed it to support patient well-being.

ACS Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg; Jolanda Maas; Liesbeth Van Den Hoven; Karin Tanja-Dijkstra. Greening a Geriatric Ward Reduces Functional Decline in Elderly Patients and is Positively Evaluated by Hospital Staff. Journal of Aging and Environment 2020, 35, 125 -144.

AMA Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg, Jolanda Maas, Liesbeth Van Den Hoven, Karin Tanja-Dijkstra. Greening a Geriatric Ward Reduces Functional Decline in Elderly Patients and is Positively Evaluated by Hospital Staff. Journal of Aging and Environment. 2020; 35 (2):125-144.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg; Jolanda Maas; Liesbeth Van Den Hoven; Karin Tanja-Dijkstra. 2020. "Greening a Geriatric Ward Reduces Functional Decline in Elderly Patients and is Positively Evaluated by Hospital Staff." Journal of Aging and Environment 35, no. 2: 125-144.

Articles
Published: 10 April 2020 in Children's Geographies
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Parental involvement is critical to the successful implementation of green schoolyards. This paper reports results from two surveys that asked a total of 402 parents of children in schools with green and paved schoolyards about their appreciation of the schoolyard, children’s behavior in the schoolyard, (dis)advantages of a green schoolyard, and willingness to become involved. Parents from schools with a green, compared to a paved, schoolyard showed higher appreciation of the schoolyard and more often reported that the schoolyard supports varied play and other behaviors. Parents generally saw more advantages than disadvantages of a green schoolyard, and many parents indicated that disadvantages, such as children coming home dirty, are not very important to them. Parents wanted to be involved in designing a green schoolyard and with schoolyard activities. However, they were less willing to help with maintenance, and their time to help is limited.

ACS Style

Janke E. van Dijk-Wesselius; Dieuwke Hovinga; Marit de Koning; Jolanda Maas; Agnes E. Van Den Berg. Parental perspectives on green schoolyards: advantages outweigh disadvantages, but willingness to help is limited. Children's Geographies 2020, 19, 145 -157.

AMA Style

Janke E. van Dijk-Wesselius, Dieuwke Hovinga, Marit de Koning, Jolanda Maas, Agnes E. Van Den Berg. Parental perspectives on green schoolyards: advantages outweigh disadvantages, but willingness to help is limited. Children's Geographies. 2020; 19 (2):145-157.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Janke E. van Dijk-Wesselius; Dieuwke Hovinga; Marit de Koning; Jolanda Maas; Agnes E. Van Den Berg. 2020. "Parental perspectives on green schoolyards: advantages outweigh disadvantages, but willingness to help is limited." Children's Geographies 19, no. 2: 145-157.

Journal article
Published: 13 August 2018 in Landscape and Urban Planning
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Greening schoolyards is an initiative to reconnect children with nature and afford meaningful experiences that foster children’s well-being. To strengthen the empirical basis for greening schoolyards, we conducted a longitudinal prospective intervention study with a two-year follow-up, to investigate the impact of greening schoolyards on schoolchildren’s (age 7–11) appreciation of the schoolyard, and their physical, cognitive, and social-emotional well-being. Data were collected amongst nine elementary schools in moderate-to-high-urbanized areas in The Netherlands with approximately 700 children at each measurement. At baseline, all nine schoolyards were paved. Five schools greened their schoolyard between baseline and first-follow-up. Objective measurements included accelero-based measurements of physical activity during recess, attentional tests (Digit Letter Substitution Test, Natu & Argwal, 1995; Sky Search Task, Manly et al., 2001) and a social orientation test (Social Orientation Choice Card, Knight, 1981). Self-report questionnaires included children’s appreciation of the schoolyard (naturalness, likability, attractiveness and perceived restoration), and their social- and emotional well-being (Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, van Widenfelt, Goedhart, Treffers & Goodman, 2003; Social Support, RIVM, 2005; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, Varni, Seid & Kurtin, 2001). Multilevel data analyses support our expectation that greening has a positive impact on children’s appreciation of the schoolyard, their attentional restoration after recess and social well-being. Furthermore, our results indicate that greening stimulates physical activity of girls. We found no impact on emotional well-being. These findings provide some support for the relevance of greening schoolyards and may guide further development of schoolyards that facilitate the well-being of schoolchildren.

ACS Style

J.E. van Dijk-Wesselius; J. Maas; D. Hovinga; M. van Vugt; A.E. Van Den Berg. The impact of greening schoolyards on the appreciation, and physical, cognitive and social-emotional well-being of schoolchildren: A prospective intervention study. Landscape and Urban Planning 2018, 180, 15 -26.

AMA Style

J.E. van Dijk-Wesselius, J. Maas, D. Hovinga, M. van Vugt, A.E. Van Den Berg. The impact of greening schoolyards on the appreciation, and physical, cognitive and social-emotional well-being of schoolchildren: A prospective intervention study. Landscape and Urban Planning. 2018; 180 ():15-26.

Chicago/Turabian Style

J.E. van Dijk-Wesselius; J. Maas; D. Hovinga; M. van Vugt; A.E. Van Den Berg. 2018. "The impact of greening schoolyards on the appreciation, and physical, cognitive and social-emotional well-being of schoolchildren: A prospective intervention study." Landscape and Urban Planning 180, no. : 15-26.

Journal article
Published: 16 May 2017 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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There is increasing evidence that the quality of green space significantly contributes to neighborhood satisfaction and well-being, independent of the mere amount of green space. In this paper, we examined residents’ perceptions of the quality and beneficial affordances of green space in relation to objectively assessed accessibility and usability. We used data from a survey in two neighborhoods (N = 223) of a medium-sized city in the Netherlands, which were similar in the amount of green space and other physical and socio-demographic characteristics, but differed in the availability of accessible and usable green spaces. Results show that residents of the neighborhood with a higher availability of accessible and usable green spaces were more satisfied with their neighborhood. This difference was statistically mediated by the higher level of perceived green space quality. Neighborhood satisfaction was significantly positively related to well-being. However, residents of the two neighborhoods did not differ in self-reported well-being and beneficial affordances of green space. These analyses contribute to a further understanding of how the accessibility and usability of green spaces may increase people’s neighborhood satisfaction. It highlights the importance of perceived quality in addition to the amount of green space when examining the beneficial effects of green space.

ACS Style

Yang Zhang; Agnes E. Van Den Berg; Terry Van Dijk; Gerd Weitkamp. Quality over Quantity: Contribution of Urban Green Space to Neighborhood Satisfaction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2017, 14, 535 .

AMA Style

Yang Zhang, Agnes E. Van Den Berg, Terry Van Dijk, Gerd Weitkamp. Quality over Quantity: Contribution of Urban Green Space to Neighborhood Satisfaction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017; 14 (5):535.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yang Zhang; Agnes E. Van Den Berg; Terry Van Dijk; Gerd Weitkamp. 2017. "Quality over Quantity: Contribution of Urban Green Space to Neighborhood Satisfaction." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14, no. 5: 535.

Opinion article
Published: 27 February 2017 in Frontiers in Psychology
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From Green Space to Green Prescriptions: Challenges and Opportunities for Research and Practice

ACS Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg. From Green Space to Green Prescriptions: Challenges and Opportunities for Research and Practice. Frontiers in Psychology 2017, 8, 1 .

AMA Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg. From Green Space to Green Prescriptions: Challenges and Opportunities for Research and Practice. Frontiers in Psychology. 2017; 8 ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Agnes E. Van Den Berg. 2017. "From Green Space to Green Prescriptions: Challenges and Opportunities for Research and Practice." Frontiers in Psychology 8, no. : 1.

Randomized controlled trial
Published: 14 December 2015 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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This laboratory study explored buffering and recovery effects of viewing urban green and built spaces on autonomic nervous system activity. Forty-six students viewed photos of green and built spaces immediately following, and preceding acute stress induction. Simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram and impedance cardiogram signal was used to derive respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and pre-ejection period (PEP), indicators of respectively parasympathetic and sympathetic activity. The findings provide support for greater recovery after viewing green scenes, as marked by a stronger increase in RSA as a marker of parasympathetic activity. There were no indications for greater recovery after viewing green scenes in PEP as a marker of sympathetic activity, and there were also no indications of greater buffering effects of green space in neither RSA nor PEP. Overall, our findings are consistent with a predominant role of the parasympathetic nervous system in restorative effects of viewing green space.

ACS Style

Magdalena M.H.E. Van Den Berg; Jolanda Maas; Rianne Muller; Anoek Braun; Wendy Kaandorp; René Van Lien; Mireille N.M. Van Poppel; Willem Van Mechelen; Agnes E. Van Den Berg. Autonomic Nervous System Responses to Viewing Green and Built Settings: Differentiating Between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2015, 12, 15860 -15874.

AMA Style

Magdalena M.H.E. Van Den Berg, Jolanda Maas, Rianne Muller, Anoek Braun, Wendy Kaandorp, René Van Lien, Mireille N.M. Van Poppel, Willem Van Mechelen, Agnes E. Van Den Berg. Autonomic Nervous System Responses to Viewing Green and Built Settings: Differentiating Between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2015; 12 (12):15860-15874.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Magdalena M.H.E. Van Den Berg; Jolanda Maas; Rianne Muller; Anoek Braun; Wendy Kaandorp; René Van Lien; Mireille N.M. Van Poppel; Willem Van Mechelen; Agnes E. Van Den Berg. 2015. "Autonomic Nervous System Responses to Viewing Green and Built Settings: Differentiating Between Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Activity." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12, no. 12: 15860-15874.

Comparative study
Published: 12 November 2015 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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The positive relationships between urban green space and health have been well documented. Little is known, however, about the role of residents’ emotional attachment to local green spaces in these relationships, and how attachment to green spaces and health may be promoted by the availability of accessible and usable green spaces. The present research aimed to examine the links between self-reported health, attachment to green space, and the availability of accessible and usable green spaces. Data were collected via paper-mailed surveys in two neighborhoods (n = 223) of a medium-sized Dutch city in the Netherlands. These neighborhoods differ in the perceived and objectively measured accessibility and usability of green spaces, but are matched in the physically available amount of urban green space, as well as in demographic and socio-economic status, and housing conditions. Four dimensions of green space attachment were identified through confirmatory factor analysis: place dependence, affective attachment, place identity and social bonding. The results show greater attachment to local green space and better self-reported mental health in the neighborhood with higher availability of accessible and usable green spaces. The two neighborhoods did not differ, however, in physical and general health. Structural Equation Modelling confirmed the neighborhood differences in green space attachment and mental health, and also revealed a positive path from green space attachment to mental health. These findings convey the message that we should make green places, instead of green spaces.

ACS Style

Yang Zhang; Terry Van Dijk; Jianjun Tang; Agnes E. Van Den Berg. Green Space Attachment and Health: A Comparative Study in Two Urban Neighborhoods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2015, 12, 14342 -14363.

AMA Style

Yang Zhang, Terry Van Dijk, Jianjun Tang, Agnes E. Van Den Berg. Green Space Attachment and Health: A Comparative Study in Two Urban Neighborhoods. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2015; 12 (11):14342-14363.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yang Zhang; Terry Van Dijk; Jianjun Tang; Agnes E. Van Den Berg. 2015. "Green Space Attachment and Health: A Comparative Study in Two Urban Neighborhoods." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12, no. 11: 14342-14363.