The workplace significantly influences employees' health and well-being, given that workers spend the majority of their time indoors. Scholarly interest has grown around restorative work environments, especially those incorporating natural elements and biophilic design; nevertheless, current evidence remains scattered across theoretical perspectives, methodological traditions, and assessment approaches. This systematic review examines how restorativness is conceptualized and operationalized in occupational contexts, focusing on theoretical foundations, types of restorative exposures, research designs, outcome measures, and methodological gaps. A systematic literature search was carried out in PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science following PRISMA guidelines and a PICOS-based strategy. Thirty-three empirical studies were included. Findings reveal a predominant reliance on Attention Restoration Theory and Stress Recovery Theory, with most studies targeting short-term affective, cognitive, and performance-related outcomes. Indoor natural elements and outdoor exposures were the most commonly investigated interventions. Although overall methodological quality was moderate to high, validated instruments for measuring perceived restorativness were seldom adopted, suggesting that restorative properties tend to be assumed rather than directly assessed. Most participants were white-collar workers, pointing to the need for investigation across more diverse occupational settings, including industrial environments. These findings highlight the importance of stronger theoretical alignment and consistent use of validated measurement tools. Conceptualizing the physical work environment as an active organizational resource within the Environmental Demands–Resources framework could foster more rigorous research and inform evidence-based workplace design and organizational practices.
Restorative experiences in occupational settings: A systematic review of theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and environmental exposures
Camilla Marossi;Marco Lezcano;Margherita Brondino
2026-01-01
Abstract
The workplace significantly influences employees' health and well-being, given that workers spend the majority of their time indoors. Scholarly interest has grown around restorative work environments, especially those incorporating natural elements and biophilic design; nevertheless, current evidence remains scattered across theoretical perspectives, methodological traditions, and assessment approaches. This systematic review examines how restorativness is conceptualized and operationalized in occupational contexts, focusing on theoretical foundations, types of restorative exposures, research designs, outcome measures, and methodological gaps. A systematic literature search was carried out in PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science following PRISMA guidelines and a PICOS-based strategy. Thirty-three empirical studies were included. Findings reveal a predominant reliance on Attention Restoration Theory and Stress Recovery Theory, with most studies targeting short-term affective, cognitive, and performance-related outcomes. Indoor natural elements and outdoor exposures were the most commonly investigated interventions. Although overall methodological quality was moderate to high, validated instruments for measuring perceived restorativness were seldom adopted, suggesting that restorative properties tend to be assumed rather than directly assessed. Most participants were white-collar workers, pointing to the need for investigation across more diverse occupational settings, including industrial environments. These findings highlight the importance of stronger theoretical alignment and consistent use of validated measurement tools. Conceptualizing the physical work environment as an active organizational resource within the Environmental Demands–Resources framework could foster more rigorous research and inform evidence-based workplace design and organizational practices.
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