The Relationship Between Student Use of Campus Green Spaces and Perceptions of Quality of Life

Abstract

<jats:p>Researchers have found that students' perception of their overall academic experience and the campus environment is related to academic accomplishment. Additionally, studies have found that the designed environment of the university can influence the degree of stress students may feel. The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between undergraduate university student use of campus green spaces and their perceptions of quality of life at a university in Texas. A total of 2334 students or 10% of the undergraduate student body received e-mails with information regarding the incentive for participation and instructions on accessing an online survey. The survey included questions that related to student use of campus green spaces, overall quality of life statements, an instrument to measure the quality of life of university students, and demographic questions. A total of 373 surveys was collected and analyzed to compare levels of quality of life of university students and the level of usage of campus green spaces. Demographic information collected allowed controlling for student grade classification, gender, and ethnicity. Frequency statistics determined that, on average, more than half the students were ranked as “high-users” of the campus green spaces, and very few students were considered “low-users.” Frequency statistics also determined that most students rated their overall quality of life and quality of life of university students positively. Additionally, this study found that undergraduate student use of campus green spaces and perceptions of quality of life were related to each other.</jats:p>

“It's like a different world”: Natural places, post-secondary students, and mental health

“…As highlighted within the Separation and Solitude theme, not only did all participants choose to visit their natural places alone, they also expressed preferences for removing themselves from the social milieu of campus life-an environment described by students as being saturated with social expectations, and, for female participants, perceived social judgment. Although several previous studies have explored post-secondary student preferences for, and the various mental health benefits of, on-campus natural places (for example, Abu-Ghazzeh, 1999;Mcfarland et al, 2008), the results of this study suggest that college and university students may prefer to visit natural places that are distanced from campus life (from both the social environment and the built environment present there). Perhaps escaping to a natural place distant from campus provides students with a much-needed break from the daily peer pressure and academic competition they must cope with (Bayram and Bilgel, 2008).…”

“…While a handful of previous studies have explored student preferences for natural environments on campuses of post-secondary institutions (Abu-Ghazzeh, 1999;Mcfarland et al, 2008;McFarland et al, 2010;Seitz et al, 2014;Speake et al, 2013), no known studies have gone further and asked college or university students what specific natural places they felt were beneficial to their mental health and what contextual factors might be influencing their natural place preferences and experiences.…”

Greening the Human Environment: The Untold Benefits

“…For example, older people living in housing units with common outdoor spaces with trees experienced more positive interactions with their neighbors than did those living in units with paving (Kweon et al, 1998). In young adults, spending time in green outdoor spaces has been related to improved perceptions of the quality of life (McFarland et al, 2008). Green landscapes have been associated with more parental supervision and discipline and with less parental aggression (Taylor et al, 1998).…”

Identifying and Improving Green Spaces on a College Campus: A Photovoice Study

“…Other investigators have utilized survey designs. McFarland, Waliczek, and Zajicek (2008) surveyed 373 undergraduate students at a university located in Texas, in which they explored the uses of nature and quality of university life. Students were asked to rate the extent to which they partook in various activities outdoors on campus.…”