Analysis of the characteristics of university common spaces that affect university students’ psychological restoration

Common spaces in universities are crucial for the psychological well-being of university students, as they serve as spaces for their daily activities. This study aimed to discuss the factors and pathways that influence the characteristics of common spaces in universities with respect to the psychological restoration of university students. We selected 11 universities in Guangzhou, China for the survey: SCUT Wushan Campus, SCNU Shipai Campus, JNU Shipai Campus, SYSU South Campus, SCNU University Town Campus, GDUFS South Campus, SCUT University Town Campus, GDUT University Town Campus, GZHU University Town Campus, GZIC(SCUT) and HKUST(GZ), all of which are located in the Tianhe, Haizhu, Panyu and Nansha districts of Guangzhou. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 662 university students from the above 11 universities and 630 valid questionnaires were ultimately collected. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to verify the hypotheses and assess the net effects of the variables, and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was used to explore the configurational patterns of high-level psychologically restorative effects. The results of the empirical research indicated the following: (1) the characteristics of the architectural scale and aesthetics, landscape richness, availability of rest facilities and compatibility of activity facilities within the university common spaces had a significant and direct effect on the psychological restoration of university students; (2) the three behavioural patterns of contact with nature, physical activity, and social interaction had a significant mediating role between the characteristics of university common spaces and psychological restoration of university students; (3) the fsQCA results revealed that four distinct patterns-integrated patterns of environment and facilities, static rest patterns, dynamic exercise patterns and interaction-driven patterns-each facilitated high levels of psychological restoration. These findings elucidate the mechanisms by which common space characteristics affect university students' psychological restoration and offer valuable insights into campus design.