Artistic paintings and photographs are often used as alternatives to direct experiences of nature, and some may have restorative health effects not yet fully understood. This study examined if/how anxiety, sensory mental imagery, and prior exposure to nature impacted aesthetic and affective responses (AAR) to environmental scenes. Participants ( n = 368) evaluated nature and urban scenes via three sets of ratings: aesthetic (liking) and affective (perceived openness and anticipated relaxation). Results showed that the strength of visual mental imagery significantly predicted AAR. Prior exposure to nature modulated responses to some nature scenes but had no effect on urban scenes. Higher anxiety levels influenced some emotional responses but not aesthetic ones. Findings may have diagnostic implications for assessing elevated anxiety levels as well as for designing wellbeing-promoting spaces in areas where direct access to nature is limited, such as hospitals, detention centers, and underground workplaces.

中文翻译：

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对自然和城市场景的审美和情感偏好的心理决定因素：焦虑、自然暴露和心理意象


艺术绘画和照片经常被用作直接体验大自然的替代品，有些可能具有尚未完全了解的恢复性健康效果。本研究检查了焦虑、感官心理意象和先前接触大自然是否/如何影响对环境场景的审美和情感反应 （AAR）。参与者 （n = 368） 通过三组评级评估自然和城市景观：审美（喜欢）和情感（感知开放性和预期放松）。结果显示，视觉心理意象的强度显着预测 AAR。先前接触大自然会调节对某些自然场景的反应，但对城市场景没有影响。较高的焦虑水平影响了一些情绪反应，但不影响审美反应。研究结果可能对评估焦虑水平升高以及在直接接触大自然受限的区域（如医院、拘留中心和地下工作场所）设计促进健康的空间具有诊断意义。