College and graduate students experience stress in various aspects of their daily and academic lives, such as study, career, and interpersonal relationships. Moreover, Korea's competition and achievement-oriented social structure can increase their st...
College and graduate students experience stress in various aspects of their daily and academic lives, such as study, career, and interpersonal relationships. Moreover, Korea's competition and achievement-oriented social structure can increase their stress. According to a survey conducted by the National Council of University Psychological Counseling Centers, a significant number of college students experience stress; some even suffer from depression and anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, more than a few graduate students are diagnosed with depression or suffer from burnout syndrome. Although the role of psychological counseling centers in universities is important for the psychological support of undergraduate and graduate students, actual interest and support remain insufficient. In many cases, despite the desire for a well-planned and well-designed physical environment of counseling centers, constructing such a physical environment is challenging due to the lack of budget, manpower, and support and guidelines for the physical environment. However, few scholars have examined the physical environment of counseling institutions in Korea. Moreover, research on spatial design elements has only begun appearing in recent years.
This study identifies the environmental planning factors of the space that affect psychological support when college and graduate students use the university psychological counseling center. First, the environmental factors of university psychological counseling centers were classified using a literature review. Further, the detailed subfactors for each factor were derived. Second, through field surveys and prior interviews, the current status of university psychological counseling centers in the Seoul metropolitan area and characteristics of the space were identified. Third, students enrolled in universities in the metropolitan area were surveyed regarding their need for university psychological counseling centers, importance of environmental plans, and satisfaction with their use. In addition, by deriving the factors for the environment of the psychological counseling center, the importance of each environmental planning element was analyzed to derive those elements which affect the comfort of counseling.
The survey results revealed that "privacy," "sociality," and "psychological stability" were the main environmental planning factors necessary for the spatial composition of university psychological counseling centers. Thus, the environmental planning for this should be as follows. First, a well-insulated wall should be used to secure the privacy of students. In addition, the space and movement used by students and counselors should be clearly distinguished. Further, visual exposure should be minimized through partitions or arrangements of furniture in the reception and waiting spaces. Second, for spatial support considering sociality, the waiting space should have an open space structure, and an environment should be created where students can freely rest and inquire. This has an important meaning: students need a space where privacy protection and autonomy are simultaneously guaranteed. Third, to promote psychological stability, soft textured materials for the interiors and brightness adjustable lighting inside the counseling room should be used. For instance, the wall can be finished with a soft texture. Further, while utilizing fabric furniture, carpets, and rugs, independent lamps that provide warm light can be placed in the counseling room to increase the sense of stability. Fourth, an environment should be created where users can enjoy nature around the psychological counseling center. Furthermore, natural light should be used as much as possible by placing windows indoors unless there is a privacy problem.
In conclusion, the university psychological counseling center should be designed as an environment that guarantees the psychological stability and privacy of students, promotes social interaction, and provides psychological stability. Privacy can be protected through sound insulation and visual blocking. Meanwhile, students' satisfaction can be increased by providing an open and flexible space for them to adjust. In addition, soft materials should be used for spaces and furniture. Finally, psychological stability should be promoted by appropriately using natural elements and lighting. These environmental planning elements can help the university psychological counseling center in providing effective psychological support to students.