Human Psychological Response to and Benefits of Interior Water Features

Water features such as water fountains, water walls, fish tanks, and fish ponds are being installed more commonly in interior spaces, but limited research on how these interior water features psychologically affect individuals has been conducted. The hypothesis assumes that individuals have an overall positive reaction to interior water features. Water features have been used in a variety of places such as healthcare facilities, childcare centers, adult centers, and commercial spaces to create a calming environment. Sounds of softly trickling water have replaced background music in some facilities in order to promote a healing atmosphere. Because water features are installed in many places, it is important to establish if these features do positively affect individuals psychologically. In order to study individuals\u27 psychological responses to interior water features, two surveys were conducted. The first survey, administered by a West Coast university in 2013, polled individuals on a variety of topics pertaining to interior water features. The second survey, issued in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 2016, included questions from the first survey in the Gulf Coast region. These questions examined demographic information and personal preferences toward interior water features. Over 550 total individuals were polled for their responses. The data was gathered and analyzed to gain a better understanding of general preferences