No Effect of Nature Representations on State Anxiety, Actual and Perceived Noise

Previous research indicates that nature and nature representations might have positive effects and noise negative effects on various facets of life, such as performance, perceived life quality, physical and mental health. In this intervention, we observed whether posters showing forests can be used to reduce actual noise, perceived noise, and state anxiety in university library users. Measurements were taken twice daily for a 5-day period pre-intervention and again during the intervention, when posters were installed. No significant differences were found for perceived or actual noise levels and state anxiety between pre-intervention and intervention phase. Correlations between actual and perceived noise, and actual noise and state anxiety were inconclusive. Finally, regression models with actual and perceived (overall and talking) noise and study phase as predictors delivered mixed results only explaining a small portion of the variance of state anxiety. The absence of an observed effect of nature representations on state anxiety, as well as actual and perceived noise is discussed.