Bergefurt probes how mental health and workplace design are related. She found, for example, that “sound masking could significantly reduce speech intelligibility and improve short-term mental health outcomes (i.e., stress and mood). . . . biophilic design elements (e.g., plants, views outside, colour use) . . . contribute to positive psychological and cognitive responses to the workplace, that could eventually enhance mental health. . . . During suboptimal circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, employees may have attached greater significance to elements like window access, daylight, and external views to maintain a connection with the outdoor world. . . . employees without a dedicated workroom at home experience greater distractions. . . . feel more stressed . . . and less concentrated and productive. . . . employees may need to decide to make long-term changes to their home-workplace, such as establishing a dedicated workroom, investing in ergonomic furniture, or modifying colour schemes, all of which have been shown to enhance mental health outcomes.”
Lisanne Bergefurt. 2023. “The Physical Workplace as a Resource for Mental Health – A Salutogenic Approach to a Mentally Healthy Workplace Design at Home and at the Office.” Doctoral Dissertation, Eindhoven University of Technology, https://pure.tue.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/312722117/20231218_Bergefurt_hf.pdf