Factors That Can Undermine the Psychological Benefits of Coastal Environments: Exploring the Effect of Tidal State, Presence, and Type of Litter.
The beneficial effects of blue environments have been well documented; however, we do not know how marine litter might modify these effects. Three studies adopted a picture-rating task to examine the influence of litter on preference, perceived restorative quality, and psychological impacts. Photographs varied the presence of marine litter (Study 1) and the type of litter (Studies 2 and 3). The influence of tide and the role of connectedness were also explored. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, it was shown that litter can undermine the psychological benefits that the coast ordinarily provides, thus demonstrating that, in addition to environmental costs of marine litter, there are also costs to people. Litter stemming from the public had the most negative impact. This research extends our understanding of the psychological benefits from natural coastal environments and the threats to these benefits from abundant and increasing marine litter.
School of Psychology, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, UK; Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
Kayleigh J
KJ
Wyles
School of Psychology, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, UK.
Sabine
S
Pahl
School of Psychology, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, UK.
Katrina
K
Thomas
School of Marine Science and Engineering, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, UK.
Richard C
RC
Thompson
affect; attention restoration theory; connectedness to nature; disrespect for nature; marine debris; restoration likelihood