Restorative Environments in Later Life: An Approach to Well-Being from the Perspective of Environmental Psychology

This study proposes an analysis of restorative experiences of 192 elderly persons living in Rome. Perceived restorativeness of natural and built environments was examined, considering the influence of the social context of restoration and the activities performed in the environment. Restorativeness emerges as a consequence of complex person-environment transactions, in which place-specific processes occur. Moreover, a different influence of social interaction in natural and built environments was clearly identified; conversely, activities performed in the environment did not show a significant effect on perceived restorativeness. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: < docdelivery@ haworthpress. com > Website: (C) 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]