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Sona_Dietl_Steidle_2018acc_Recovery_in_sensory-enriched_break_environments_Integrating_vision_sound_and_scent.pdf (757.05 kB)

Recovery in sensory-enriched break environments: Integrating vision, sound and scent into simulated indoor and outdoor environments

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journal contribution
posted on 2018-11-19, 11:42 authored by Brid Sona, Erik DietlErik Dietl, Anna Steidle
To deal with stress and exhaustion at work, personal resources need to be replenished during breaks. The aim of this laboratory study (n = 122 students) was to test the restorative potential of sensory-enriched break environments (SEBEs) in a between-subjects with repeated measures design, focusing on the type of the environment (natural outdoor vs. built indoor environment) and sensory input (no sensory input vs. audiovisual input vs. audiovisual and olfactory input). Analyses showed that SEBEs simulating either a natural or a lounge environment were perceived as more pleasant and restorative (fascination/being away) than a standard break room, which in turn facilitated the recovery of personal resources (mood, fatigue, arousal). Moreover, adding a congruent scent to an audiovisual simulation indirectly facilitated the recovery of personal resources via greater scent pleasantness and higher fascination and being away. The current study shows opportunities for sensory enrichment to foster restoration in break environments.

History

School

  • Business and Economics

Department

  • Business

Published in

Ergonomics

Volume

62

Issue

4

Pages

521-536

Citation

SONA, B., DIETL, E. and STEIDLE, A., 2018. Recovery in sensory-enriched break environments: Integrating vision, sound and scent into simulated indoor and outdoor environments. Ergonomics, 62 (4), pp.521-536.

Publisher

© Taylor & Francis

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publisher statement

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Ergonomics on 02 Apr 2019 available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2018.1491643

Acceptance date

2018-06-18

Publication date

2019-04-02

Copyright date

2019

ISSN

0014-0139

Language

  • en