Personal Space Preferences Depending on Behaviour at A Psychiatric Hospital Garden

Abstract

This study aimed to reveal differences in choices according to natural and enclosed criteria for spaces linked to activities completed by users in the garden of a psychiatric hospital. In order to be able to determine these differences, the study was completed with a total of 202 users, including 101 inpatients and 101 healthy volunteers without history of mental disorders (34 visitors, 33 landscape architecture and 34 medical students receive training in psychiatry) as comparison groups in Ataköy Psychiatric Hospital garden. All patients were treated with antipsychotic drugs in an unchanged manner throughout the study. The study examined whether there were differences in personal space boundaries of the patients themselves compared to other user groups and whether disease type and gender were effective on personal space boundaries. In conclusion, patients wanted larger personal space boundaries and more enclosed spaces compared to other user groups and additionally, the study revealed that both groups preferred natural choices. The study revealed the need to produce solutions which will make the patients feel at ease and comfortable when determining the boundaries of activity areas.