Abstract Chronic stress impacts workplace wellbeing. To counter this, stress recovery and attention restoration theories assert a need for nature connection. However, the impacts of environmental design typologies are poorly understood. This research sought to explore the potential of salutogenic design as a stress-reducing health promotion tool for ‘apparently well’ people in a workplace setting. A randomised controlled trial compared ‘apparently well’ (n = 164), 18–65-year-old staff and students at a University campus in Auckland, New Zealand. Participants were recruited and randomised into two intervention groups, sensory garden (SG; n = 57), and urban plaza (UP; n = 51), and a control group (CG; n = 56). SG and UP participants had a monitored ‘appointment outdoors’ for 30 min once weekly for four weeks. All participants were tested for salivary cortisol, perceived wellbeing, productivity, perceived stress, nature relatedness pre- and post-intervention; data were analysed using generalised linear models. Significant intervention effects (SG vs control) were observed for salivary cortisol (−16.1% [95% CI: –32.0%, 0.2%]; p = 0.048), wellbeing (6.9% [95% CI: 2.7%, 11.1%]; p = 0.001) and productivity (2.8% [95% CI: 0.1%, 5.5%]; p = 0.040). Although not significant, a surprising trend towards negative effects of the Plaza on wellbeing (−4%[95% CI: −8.78%, 0.35%]; p = 0.071), productivity (−2% [95% CI: −5.38%, 1.34%]; p = 0.238), and perceived stress (19% [95% CI: −59.87, 21.49]; p = 0.355) were observed when compared to the SG group. This study suggests a sensory garden effectively reduces stress, enhances wellbeing and improves productivity of ‘apparently well’ people in the workplace. Future wellbeing initiatives should explore opportunities for nature connection in their setting.

中文翻译：

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感官花园对工作场所幸福感的影响：一项随机对照试验

摘要 慢性压力会影响工作场所的幸福感。为了解决这个问题，压力恢复和注意力恢复理论声称需要自然联系。然而，人们对环境设计类型的影响知之甚少。这项研究旨在探索生物质设计作为工作场所环境中“明显健康”的人的减压健康促进工具的潜力。一项随机对照试验比较了新西兰奥克兰大学校园中“显然很好”（n = 164）的 18-65 岁教职员工和学生。参与者被招募并随机分为两个干预组，感官花园（SG；n = 57）和城市广场（UP；n = 51）和对照组（CG；n = 56）。SG 和 UP 参与者每周接受一次 30 分钟的“户外约会”监控，持续四个星期。在干预前后，所有参与者都接受了唾液皮质醇、感知幸福感、生产力、感知压力、自然相关性的测试；使用广义线性模型分析数据。在唾液皮质醇（-16.1% [95% CI: –32.0%, 0.2%]; p = 0.048）、幸福感（6.9% [95% CI: 2.7%, 11.1%]）方面观察到显着的干预效果（SG 与对照） ; p = 0.001) 和生产力 (2.8% [95% CI: 0.1%, 5.5%]; p = 0.040)。虽然不显着，但广场对幸福感的负面影响有令人惊讶的趋势（-4%[95% CI：-8.78%，0.35%]；p = 0.071）、生产力（-2% [95% CI：-5.38%] , 1.34%]; p = 0.238) 和感知压力 (19% [95% CI: -59.87, 21.49]; p = 0.355) 与 SG 组相比。这项研究表明，感官花园可有效减轻压力，增强幸福感并提高工作场所“明显健康”人员的生产力。未来的福利计划应探索在其环境中与自然联系的机会。