Urban green space interaction and wellbeing

investigating the experience of international students in Berlin during the first COVID-19 lockdown

authored by

Charlotte Collins, Dagmar Haase, Stefan Heiland, Nadja Kabisch

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the topic of mental health/wellbeing with reference to exposure to urban green space (UGS). It builds on previous research, which has highlighted the potential for green space interaction for supporting positive emotional and mental wellbeing, particularly in times of stress and uncertainty. Using this basis, the paper explores whether UGS interaction also helped to mitigate the negative mental health impacts brought about by the first COVID-19 lockdown. The specific focus is on students and expatriates living in Berlin, Germany as this population groupbecame increasingly vulnerable during this time as a result of uncertainty and restrictions in their daily lives brought about the enforced lockdown measures. More specifically, this paper investigates how a change in their daily routines created opportunities to interact with and experience UGS differently and how their emotional response and perception towards these spaces changed. Semi-structured interviews allowed for stories, experiences and emotions to unfold, which revealed that the participants’ gained an appreciation for the potential of UGS to support their wellbeing during a stressful and isolating time. UGS interaction also allowed them to form tangible memories of summer 2020 as it provided a safe arena for them to maintain social contact with friends outdoors, or to escape their home environment and experience respite and relaxation in a natural setting. The findings demonstrate that for this sub-group of the population UGS became a reliable constant and a valuable public health resource, which may also help to mitigate the long-term adverse mental health impacts of the pandemic.

External Organisation(s)

Technische Universität Berlin
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)
Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)

Type

Article

Journal

Urban Forestry and Urban Greening

Volume

70

ISSN

1618-8667

Publication date

04.2022

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Forestry, Ecology, Soil Science

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being, SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127543 (Access: Open)