Engaging the Senses: The Association of Urban Green Space with General Health and Well-Being in Urban Residents

Abstract

This study evaluated the short-term responses of physiological and psychological indices and examined the human senses that are mostly engaged during a green space and urban exposure in residents of Athens, Greece. The forest had beneficial effects for human physiology, anxiety and mood states and was also associated with all five senses and positive reactions, while the opposite was observed in the urban center. The difference of pre- and post-green space exposure salivary cortisol was correlated with the participants’ environmental profile and body mass index. Green spaces can alleviate stress and improve overall mood, while helping individuals experience their surroundings with all five senses.