Soundscape Restorativeness and Its Influencing Factors in University Teaching Zones

University campus teaching areas are essential spaces for students’ daily learning and recovery, in which soundscapes play a crucial role in shaping restorative experiences. This study aimed to explore the restorative effects of soundscapes in campus teaching areas and the factors influencing these effects. Field surveys, psychological assessments, and physiological experiments were conducted to evaluate restorative perceptions, which were characterized by three dimensions: Attractiveness, Coherence, and Being Away. The findings indicate that both the visual environment and acoustic characteristics significantly shaped restorative outcomes. Natural landscapes, particularly green areas and waterscapes, enhanced the restorative potential of soundscapes, while natural sounds, such as birdsong, fountain sound, and rustling leaves, were perceived as more restorative. In contrast, traffic noise, crowd noise, and class bell sound reduced restorative perceptions. Furthermore, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) played a critical role, with the higher SNR values of birdsong relative to traffic noise being associated with stronger restorative effects. These results suggest that campus soundscape design should prioritize green landscapes, introduce or amplify natural sounds, and optimize the SNR of restorative sounds. Overall, this research provides both theoretical support and practical guidance for designing healthier campus environments that foster students’ recovery and well-being.