The biophilia hypothesis explored: regenerative urban green spaces and well-being in a Portuguese sample

Lencastre, Marina Prieto Afonso; Vidal, Diogo Guedes; Barros, Nelson; Maia, Rui Leandro; Farinha-Marques, Paulo

doi:10.1080/00207233.2022.2067411

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Environmental or ecological humanities, articulated with the concept of biophilia [37], can be of important value because they deal with issues of cultures, values, preferences and responsibilities in face of urgent environmental problems. Overcoming the division between culture and nature, environmental humanities aim to overcome the divisions between the sciences and the humanities, between Western, Eastern and indigenous ways of relating to the natural world, redefining the place of humans on this planet.…”

Section: Discussion: Humanities Health and Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composing Worlds: A Portuguese Transdisciplinary Network in Humanities, Health and Well-Being

et al. 2023

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The project “Composing worlds: humanities, health and well-being in the 21st century” aims to build a network of experts in the humanities, social and health sciences, who think about health and well-being in contemporary technological societies. The relevance of this project is based on the growing evidence that most of the problems that the 21st century will face, particularly in the area of health and well-being, relate to the way in which humans connect to the environment, to non-human beings, to different cultures and to technologies. Its main goal is to bring out personal and well-founded ideas on these issues and to reflect on how the humanities may help with difficult environmental, social and technological issues. The methodology used in the first phase of the project consists of an open answer interview, built in a participatory way by the network of experts, and of a thematic analysis of the answers. It is an exploratory research project, which uses thematic analysis to identify the key ideas of each author, and to induce the corresponding main themes. The themes are then organized by semantic correspondence into thematic clusters. The thematic axes are abstracted from these clusters, and they constitute the vectors to be developed in the second phase of the project, by proposing their integration into university curricula, research and intervention of social, cultural and community outreach. Some of these developments are already in place.

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Section: Discussion: Humanities Health and Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Composing Worlds: A Portuguese Transdisciplinary Network in Humanities, Health and Well-Being

et al. 2023

Self Cite

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“…Our connection to nature is genetic, and impressions through the senses from nature can foster an emotional and physiological response [41]. Biophilia has its roots in two Greek words, bio means life, and philia means friendship, often also translated as love [61]. Biophilia was first introduced in 1973 in by Erich Fromm, a German psychoanalyst, and in 1984, it was taken up by Edward O. Wilson, an American entomologist, who, in his book Biophilia, described biophilia as the deep relationship that human beings have with nature [40,61].…”

Section: Theme 3: a Break From Diagnosis And Ruminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two-and-a-Half-Year Follow-Up Study with Freedom on Water through Stand-Up Paddling: Exploring Experiences in Blue Spaces and Their Long-Term Impact on Mental Well-Being

Østergaard,

Sparre,

Dahlgaard

2024

Healthcare

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Blue space interventions evidently have a positive impact on well-being and mental health, yet longitudinal studies on the lasting impact of such interventions are scarce. In this qualitative follow-up study with semi-structured interviews, we explored the long-term experiences over 18–42 months among six out of the initial eight women from the primary study, also including two instructors from the initial study. The participants, dealing with mental disorders, participated in the group-based intervention Freedom on Water, participating in stand-up paddling. Five main themes emerged from the empirical analysis: SUP as a catalyst for broadening horizons; learning: stepping out of the comfort zone; a break from diagnosis and rumination; connectedness to nature, specifically blue nature, and to the group; a life-changing journey; and a shift in mindset. The study revealed a long-term, life-changing impact of the program on participants’ well-being and mental health. Nature and blue space activities had become a greater part of their lives, improving their mental health with feelings of calmness, positivity, healing, and freedom. Stepping out of their comfort zone facilitated experiences of success and transformed their mindsets. Moreover, they experienced a break from rumination, and they became more outwardly focused, with confidence in themselves and their abilities, while making new friendships and engaging in new and different contexts.

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“…These objectives are in line with the United Nations' sustainable development goals, highlighting the significance of integrating nature into urban environments. Attending urban green spaces has also clear benefits on mental health [8] and pro-environmental behaviours [96] . Nisbet et al [97] showed that the amount of time individuals spend in green spaces, and the frequency of their contact with nature, have an impact on their sense of belonging, as well as their pro-social and pro-environmental behaviours.…”

Section: Biophilia Well-being and Urban Ecosocial Regenerative Planningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This perspective provides a compelling argument for urban planners to incorporate parks and gardens within cities, ensuring that residents have access to green spaces in walking distance, and throughout their lives. According to our previous exploratory research on the biophilic behaviour of a Portuguese sample in urban green spaces [8] , there is a tendency to sense a strong connection with nature by the individuals that recurrently use urban green spaces. The surveyed users tend to prioritize green spaces that offer quiet and shaded areas, along with a diverse range of plant species that promote tranquility.…”

Section: Biophilia Well-being and Urban Ecosocial Regenerative Planningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent work goes towards showing that biophilia seems to be an interesting concept to deepen the relationship between health, sustainability and nature. Individual and social well-being, as well as the promotion of biodiversity in cities, urban cooling and oxygen production, CO2 management and short food circuits are important arguments for the development of sustainable and biophilic green spaces in cities [5][6][7][8] . They meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Program [9] which, by 2030, plans universal access to safe and inclusive green spaces in cities, where the largest number of human inhabitants will be concentrated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biophilia in pieces: Critical approach of a general concept

Lencastre,

Vidal,

Lopes

et al. 2023

Environ Soc Psychol

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The biophilia hypothesis is critically approached in the context of evolutionary psychology, adaptation of the sensory systems and application to sustainable and urban planning, namely in the field of urban green spaces. From an evolutionary perspective, our biophilic tendencies are generally accepted and interpreted as an adaptation to natural environments, where the ability to connect with, and understand habitats and other living beings, was crucial to our survival. This statement is critically addressed by the paper, through a narrative review, namely by discussing biophilia and biphobia as general and specific adaptations, with different learning properties. Nevertheless, research on the health effects of the perceptive systems points to special selected mechanisms internal to the general biophilic adaptation. Criticism of the biophilia hypothesis is explored. The paper concludes by pointing to the importance of urban green spaces, both for the development of the biophilic predispositions and for sustainability and regenerative approaches in the cities.

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The biophilia hypothesis explored: regenerative urban green spaces and well-being in a Portuguese sample

Cited by 11 publications

References 41 publications

Composing Worlds: A Portuguese Transdisciplinary Network in Humanities, Health and Well-Being

Composing Worlds: A Portuguese Transdisciplinary Network in Humanities, Health and Well-Being

Two-and-a-Half-Year Follow-Up Study with Freedom on Water through Stand-Up Paddling: Exploring Experiences in Blue Spaces and Their Long-Term Impact on Mental Well-Being

Biophilia in pieces: Critical approach of a general concept

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