Restoration in Its Natural Context: How Ecological Momentary Assessment Can Advance Restoration Research

Femke Beute, Yvonne De Kort and Wijnand IJsselsteijn
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Femke Beute: Human Technology Interaction, School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600, The Netherlands
Yvonne De Kort: Human Technology Interaction, School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600, The Netherlands
Wijnand IJsselsteijn: Human Technology Interaction, School of Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: More and more people use self-tracking technologies to track their psychological states, physiology, and behaviors to gain a better understanding of themselves or to achieve a certain goal. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) also offers an excellent opportunity for restorative environments research, which examines how our physical environment (especially nature) can positively influence health and wellbeing. It enables investigating restorative health effects in everyday life, providing not only high ecological validity but also opportunities to study in more detail the dynamic processes playing out over time on recovery, thereby bridging the gap between laboratory ( i.e. , short-term effects) and epidemiological (long-term effects) research. We have identified four main areas in which self-tracking could help advance restoration research: (1) capturing a rich set of environment types and restorative characteristics; (2) distinguishing intra-individual from inter-individual effects; (3) bridging the gap between laboratory and epidemiological research; and (4) advancing theoretical insights by measuring a more broad range of effects in everyday life. This paper briefly introduces restorative environments research, then reviews the state of the art of self-tracking technologies and methodologies, discusses how these can be implemented to advance restoration research, and presents some examples of pioneering work in this area.

Keywords: restoration; nature; experience sampling; quantified self; mHealth (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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