Articles
PEOPLE’S RESPONSE TO DISCOMFORT IN THE PRESENCE OF INTERIOR PLANTS OR ART
Article number
790_24
Pages
173 – 178
Language
English
Abstract
Roger Ulrich’s well-known research showed that patients recovering from surgery used fewer pain-reducing medications when in a hospital room with a view of trees rather than a view of a building.
The experiment we conducted also examined the role of plants in pain perception.
We found that more subjects felt discomfort from a hand submerged in ice water if they were in a room without plants than if they were in a room with plants.
This was true even if the room without plants had other colorful objects that might help people get their minds off of the discomfort.
Results from a room assessment confirmed that the control room with non-plant objects was as interesting and colorful as the room with plants, but the presence of plants was perceived as making the air in the room fresher.
The experiment we conducted also examined the role of plants in pain perception.
We found that more subjects felt discomfort from a hand submerged in ice water if they were in a room without plants than if they were in a room with plants.
This was true even if the room without plants had other colorful objects that might help people get their minds off of the discomfort.
Results from a room assessment confirmed that the control room with non-plant objects was as interesting and colorful as the room with plants, but the presence of plants was perceived as making the air in the room fresher.
Publication
Authors
V.I. Lohr, C.H. Pearson-Mims
Keywords
benefits of plants, foliage plants, human issues in horticulture, human well-being, pain, people-plant interactions, response to nature, room assessment
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