Discovering Restorative Spaces on Campus to Reduce Stress for First-Year College Students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23918/ijsses.v9i1p308Keywords:
Campus Spaces, Restorative Environments, Stress, Destressing, Environmental PsychologyAbstract
This paper discusses the importance of restorative spaces on campuses in helping first-year college students cope more effectively with the various stress factors impacting their daily lives. Using Medgar Evers College as a case study, it explores specific common and uncommon spaces students visited to recuperate from day-to-day stresses, pre and during COVID-19. The results will ultimately identify and promote campus spaces that are healthy means for retreat, destressing, and rejuvenation for first-year students. The findings revealed that the College’s Library—though a place to study—was considered the most restorative space on campus, where students retreated to reduce stress.
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