Soundscapes in home environments: the impact of home types and soundscapes on the recovery benefits of psychophysiological stress

Zhou, C, Feng, M, Zhang, X and Kaner, J ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7946-7433, 2026. Soundscapes in home environments: the impact of home types and soundscapes on the recovery benefits of psychophysiological stress. Building and Environment, 292: 114234. ISSN 0360-1323

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Abstract

Rapid urbanization has placed individuals under sustained high-stress load, underscoring the urgent need for effective restorative environmental interventions. Using a 3×3 factorial experimental design, this study systematically examines how three types of soundscapes (natural, music, urban) and three types of home environments (functional-efficiency, aesthetic-display, and comfort-relaxation) influence stress recovery, and further explores the moderating role of gender. We assessed recovery using physiological indicators, including electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), and electrodermal activity (EDA), along with subjective rating scales, to evaluate the joint effects of sound–home interactions on both physiological and psychological restoration. The results show: (1) both natural soundscapes and music soundscapes significantly increased �, �, and � wave power, reduced � wave power, improved heart rate variability (HRV) indices, and enhanced perceived restoration, whereas urban soundscapes produced predominantly adverse effects; (2) home type modulated recovery, with the relaxed-oriented home most effectively buffering the adverse impact of urban soundscapes, the aesthetic-oriented home supporting stronger positive arousal under natural soundscapes, and the functional-oriented home showing the weakest restorative profile overall; (3) gender differences emerged in several physiological measures, with female participants responding more favorably to natural and music soundscapes, whereas male participants displayed a more context-dependent dual pattern of “recovery vs. arousal” across different home environments. These findings reveal the multidimensional mechanisms by which soundscapes and home environments jointly shape stress recovery and highlight the applied value of beneficial soundscapes (natural and musical) for indoor restorative design in everyday living spaces.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Building and Environment
Creators:	Zhou, C., Feng, M., Zhang, X. and Kaner, J.
Publisher:	Elsevier BV
Date:	15 March 2026
Volume:	292
ISSN:	0360-1323
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.114234 DOI S0360132326000405 Publisher Item Identifier 2578679 Other
Rights:	This accepted manuscript is shared under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) License after a 24-month embargo.
Divisions:	Schools > Nottingham School of Art & Design
Record created by:	Melissa Cornwell
Date Added:	15 Apr 2026 15:19
Last Modified:	15 Apr 2026 15:19
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/55558

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