 |
|
Campus green spaces enhance quality of life
September 30, 2008Students more satisfied when they go green
SAN MARCOS, TX - The next time you see students playing an energized game of touch football or studying in the sunshine on a college quadrangle, consider this: campus green spaces can help students feel better about life and improve learning.
Trying to determine the relationship between availability and access to green spaces and students' quality of life, researchers at Texas State University recently surveyed 373 undergraduates at the San Marcos campus. Results of the survey were published in the April 2008 issue of the American Society for Horticultural Science's journal, HortTechnology.
Depending on their answers to survey questions, respondents were ranked as "low users", "medium users", or "high users" of campus green spaces. More than 90 percent of respondents were ranked as either high or medium users of green space. Students were also asked to rate their perception of quality of life. A mean score of more than four (on a scale of 1 to 5) indicated that most students rated their quality of life as positive.
According to A.L. McFarland, a graduate student in the Department of Agriculture at TSU and primary author of the study, the researchers were able to make a "statistically significant" correlation between green space users and those who gave a high rating to their quality of life. "These findings indicated that those (students) who used campus green spaces more frequently rated their overall quality of life higher when compared with students who used the campus green spaces and arboretum less frequently", said McFarland.
Higher quality of life wasn't the only bonus for green space users. "High users" of campus green spaces also rated their cognitive ability to apply knowledge learned in college as higher when compared to those students who spent less time in green spaces. It appears that going green is not just for the environment anymore, so, students-get outside and get happy!
American Society for Horticultural Science
Depending on their answers to survey questions, respondents were ranked as "low users", "medium users", or "high users" of campus green spaces. More than 90 percent of respondents were ranked as either high or medium users of green space. Students were also asked to rate their perception of quality of life. A mean score of more than four (on a scale of 1 to 5) indicated that most students rated their quality of life as positive.
According to A.L. McFarland, a graduate student in the Department of Agriculture at TSU and primary author of the study, the researchers were able to make a "statistically significant" correlation between green space users and those who gave a high rating to their quality of life. "These findings indicated that those (students) who used campus green spaces more frequently rated their overall quality of life higher when compared with students who used the campus green spaces and arboretum less frequently", said McFarland.
Higher quality of life wasn't the only bonus for green space users. "High users" of campus green spaces also rated their cognitive ability to apply knowledge learned in college as higher when compared to those students who spent less time in green spaces. It appears that going green is not just for the environment anymore, so, students-get outside and get happy!
American Society for Horticultural Science
Science News and Science Current Events Tag Cloud
This tag cloud is a visual representation of term frequencies of random science news topics with common terms grouped together and emphasized by their display size.
Cognitive Decline Neurodegenerative Disease Arctic sea ice Ethanol Shark Attack Xmm-newton Childhood Obesity Visual Cortex Perception Cancer Cell Uterine Fibroids Microfluidic device Gastric Cancer Clinical Trials Drug Resistance Sleep Disorders Wrinkles Cistic Fibrosis Inflammation Avian Flu Virus Earthquakes Infants Childhood Cancer Lung Injury Ovarian Tissue
See More: Science News Tags
Green Space Current Events and Green Space News RSSGreen neighborhoods may reduce childhood obesity
Childhood obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension, sleep apnea and emotional distress. Obese children and youth are likely to be obese as adults, experience more cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke and incur higher healthcare costs.
Neighborhood greenness has long term positive impact on kids' health
In the first study to look at the effect of neighborhood greenness on inner city children's weight over time, researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the University of Washington report that higher neighborhood greenness is associated with slower increases in children's body mass over a two year period, regardless of residential density.
Expanding communities mean less green space
The Netherlands is becoming more crowded. A green and open landscape is increasingly regarded as a leisure space for urban dwellers, and people are keen to retain it.
Childhood weight linked to proximity to green space and food stores
Living in greener neighborhoods or in closer proximity to grocery stores is associated with reduced risk of being overweight, according to a study of more than 7,000 children ages 3 to 18 conducted by researchers from the Indiana University School of Medicine; the Department of Geography, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis; and the University of Cincinnati.
Children need 60 minutes of daily physical activity, expert panel says
School-age children should participate in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, according to an expert panel.
How city dwellers and living things put the green into our urban open spaces
Urban planners must recognise that green spaces are not produced by professional designers alone, but by ordinary residents and all manner of plants and insects, animals and birds making themselves at home in our cities and towns, says new research sponsored by the ESRC.
Urban green spaces lengthen pensioners' lives
The availability of nearby parks and tree-lined streets in large, densely populated cities significantly increases the longevity of pensioners, finds a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. From 1992 onwards, the researchers monitored the longevity of over 3,000 people born in 1903, 1908, 1913, and 1918. All the study participants lived in Japan's capital, Tokyo, one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The average density was 13,050 inhabitants per square kilometre in 1997, and the amount of park space per head was 5.18 square metres. In 1992 the study participants completed questionnaires on their living environment and their monthly expenses. The survey
More Green Space Current Events and Green Space News Articles
 |
Green Wilma, Frog in Space by Tedd Arnold (Author), Tedd Arnold (Illustrator) Green Wilma is so determined to catch a tasty fly that she doesn’t notice a family of galactic visitors to her pond. In a case of mistaken identity, the alien parents beam Wilma on board their spaceship while leaving their child, Blooger, behind. Poor Blooger, stuck on the bewildering planet Earth. Poor Wilma, hungry and confused (though also having the ride of her life!). Will the two be able to switch back in time for supper? It’s a warp-speed comedy sure to please the fans of Tedd Arnold’s Geisel Honor–winning Hi! Fly Guy, his beloved Parts books, and especially Green Wilma, which was an IRA-CBC Children’s Choice book and a PBS Storytime featured selection. |
 |
KingSize Big & Tall Banded Bottom Knit Polo Shirt Space-Dyed (FIELD GREEN,Tall - 2XL) by KingSize Banded Bottom Knit Polo Shirts. Cotton/polyester knits with 3-horn button placket and ribbed bottom band. Tagless label. Machine wash. Imported. Space-Dyed Polo. Knit shirt in a space-dyed pattern. Ribbed knit cuffs and collar.Big:length - about 30"Tall:length - about 32" |
 |
Debbie Meyer Green Bags by Debbie Meyer Fruits & Vegetables stay fresh longer. Prolong the Life of Your Produce ¿ NATURALLY! Re-Use Bags up to 10 Times! Delicious Fruits & Veggies Star Fresh Side by Side Control Humidity, Discourage Mold & Decay |
 |
Green Space by Plastik Park |
 |
Kinky Trax: New York Attitude Aly-Us (Performer), Gate-Ah (Performer), Funky Green Dogs From Outer Space (Performer), DJ Pierre (Performer), House of Gypsies (Performer), Reel 2 Real (Performer), Swing 52 (Performer), The Rhythm Factor (Performer), Grand Diva Tour (Performer), Members of the House (Performer) Tracklisting: 1 Aly-Us Follow Me, 2 Cajmere Brighter Days (Underground Trance) Featuring - Dajaé, 3 Gate-Ah The Shelter, 4 Funky Green Dogs From Outer Space Reach For Me, 5 House Of Gypsies Samba (Sub Mix), 6 Swing 52 You Keep Holding Back (Love Me), 7 Rhythm Factor Don't Mean Nothin Featuring - Ira Levi, 8 Grand Diva Tour Find Somebody Else Featuring - Lisa Carson, 9 Members Of The House Reach Out For The Love (Remix), 10 Hardrive Sindae (Kenlou Dub) Featuring - LG Remix - Kenlou, 11 Reel 2 Real The New Anthem (Union City Mix) (5.08), and 12 DJ Pierre Musik (The Tribal Wild Pitch Mix) |
 |
The Girl From the Green Dimension Starring: Vitina Marcus, Harry Raybould Also With: Irwin Allen (Producer) |
 |
TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Science Fiction (2001 A Space Odyssey / Soylent Green / Forbidden Planet / The Time Machine 1960) Starring: Keir Dullea, Charlton Heston, Walter Pidgeon, Rod Taylor |
 |
Fisher Space Pen, Bullet Space Pen with Clip, Matte Black, Gift Boxed (400BCL) by Fisher Space Pen The original Bullet Space Pen was conceived in July of 1948. Paul Fisher was soon machining a new pen design shaped from solid aluminum. It became the first Fisher ball point pen, the #400 Bullet Pen, is arguably the most popular pen of the twentieth century. This pen is now all brass with a Matte black finish.When closed, the Bullet Space Pen is the perfect size to carry in your wallet, pocket, purse, car glove box, organizer or toolbox. When open it's a full sized, evenly balanced writing instrument. The patented ink cartridge was designed by Paul Fisher for NASA in the 1960's enabling it to write in temperatures from -30 to +250 degrees Fahrenheit, under water, in zero gravity, at any angle, even upside down. Includes removable clip. |
 |
Green Space Invaders Alarm Clock by Streamline Description coming soon... |
 |
EAGLE TRANSPORTER - Space 1999 - Vinyl Decal Sticker #A1394 | Vinyl Color: Green by Graphix-FX This is a vinyl decal that can be applied to just about any smooth surface. These decals are made from the highest quality vinyl to give you many years of use without fading or peeling. Detailed application instructions are included. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |