The human experience across space and time
How coastal environments shape psychological, biological, and social drivers of mental health
Humans are adapted to the environment by evolution. Over millennia, we have evolved to be able to continuously scan our environment and respond with changes in our mind and body depending on the situation. From infancy until adulthood and beyond, we unconsciously learn to finetune our behaviour by integrating environmental and social cues.
Growing evidence suggests that natural environments benefit mental health, and self-reported data shows that coastal settings are extraordinarily popular for relaxation and recovery. The unique sensory experiences at the coast are interesting to better understand how and why environments influence stress and wellbeing. However, evidence for the psychophysiological effects of coastal environments is lacking.
In this project, we bridge space and time by tracing how information from the environment, such as the coast, flows through the body: from what we see, hear, and perceive in the present moment (e.g., tracked with eye-tracking), to how the brain processes these signals (e.g., using fMRI), and how this results in shifts in mental state (mood, arousal) and physiology (cardiovascular and nervous system activity). Our recent findings suggest that natural beaches in Belgium reduce psychophysiological stress more effectively than urban and green environments. Since everyone responds differently, we try to explain the variation in people’s responses by considering important factors related to people’s past, such as age, previous environmental exposure, social position, and mental health.
As such, we aim to deepen scientific understanding of how different outdoor environments affect psychological, physiological, and social dimensions of mental health, and how these insights can inform the prevention and treatment of stress-related disorders.
Want to know more, participate in one of our studies, or eager to be of service?
Contact: Alexander.Hooyberg@UGent.be or MarieAnne.Vanderhasselt@UGent.be