STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS REGARDING THE INFLUENCE OF GREEN SPACES ON THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING

Abstract

Aim: The main aim of this research is to explore students’ perceptions regarding the influence of green spaces in promoting health and well-being at a university in South Wales. The additional objectives are; Investigate whether students interact with nature and utilise the green spaces in the university, explore the barriers to accessing the gardens and green spaces on campus, identify students’ views on the influence of gardens and green spaces on their mental and physical health and well-being, explore the importance of green spaces and gardens for students in the university and explore students’ views on how students’ interaction with green spaces and gardens on campus could be promoted. Methodology: Semi-structured interviews were conducted on 12 university students in South Wales. The sample included 10 females and 2 males. Four of them are under-graduate students and eight of them are post-graduate. Findings: Findings of the study indicated that most of the participants were fully aware of the green spaces in the university, and they utilised it on a different frequency base and reasons. The most frequent use of the green spaces was associated with the students’ social life. Moreover, participants reported a positive impact of nature on their physical and psychological wellbeing. Other findings illustrated that weather was the most reported barriers which limit students’ access to green spaces in the university. Participants also reported various ways to raise students’ awareness of green spaces and promote their use in the university. Implications for public health and health promotion: the socio-ecological model (McLeroy et al. 1988), was applied to aid understand the factors which influence the participants’ perceptions regarding the green spaces in the university. Conclusion: this paper indicated the importance of green spaces in universities. However, any further researches might consider mixed-methods approach with a larger sample size, that would include both genders equally.