INDOOR PALNTS AND WORKPLACE: A REVIEW

The results of numerous studies, most importantly the contributions of Ulrich, with Stress Recovery Theory (SRT: natural stimuli dampen the impact of stress caused by an excessively high or excessively low arousal), and Kaplan & Kaplan, with Attention Restoration Theory (ART: natural stimuli promote restoration from mental fatigue), have shown the beneficial effects of natural environments on global wellbeing. Ulrich claims that individuals can use natural stimuli to regain their depleted attentional resources in cases of mental fatigue, while Kaplan & Kaplan claim that people also could have a beneficial effect in case of excessive psychophysiological stress. Exposure to nature seems to have beneficial effects on the level of physiological activation and on mental fatigue; it can be defined as a coping strategy. The benefits of contact with nature can stem from direct exposure (e.g., viewing a landscape through a window) or indirect exposure (e.g. viewing pictures, objects or videos that portray natural stimuli). This review aims to understand which benefits are related to indirect exposure to natural stimuli in a workplace (i.e. offices). This interest is related to the fact that most modern day workers spend significant amounts of time inside of buildings. Despite this, workplaces are often far from ideal, and natural stimuli are seldom implemented. This review presents works that show the relationship between natural stimuli and beneficial effects on productivity, psychological wellbeing, and physical wellbeing. Benefits in productivity are related to a higher quality of life, and a related decrease in sick leaves. Furthermore, it would seem that the positive mindset induced by plants can lead to a decrease in the number of errors on the workplace. As for psychological wellbeing, benefits can be found in attention restoration, in stress management, in coping strategies, in positive thoughts and states of mind, in the decreased levels of anxiety, and in an increased sense of privacy. Finally, the purification of air related to plants (lower levels of CO2, CO, and formaldehyde) brings to a decrease in work-related symptoms (General symptoms, mucous membrane symptoms, and cutaneous symptoms). This review clearly shows just how important the placement of plants is in a workplace. The impact indoor nature has on the workplace is tangible, with evident individual and organizational benefits. The vast range of solutions that have emerged in the last decade allows us to meet all the needs and possibilities a workplace has, and this is made possible with the insertion of natural elements in workplaces.