Research

9 pages, 3819 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between the Psychological Effects of Viewing Forest Landscapes and Trait Anxiety Level

by Chorong Song, Harumi Ikei, Bum-Jin Park, Juyoung Lee, Takahide Kagawa and Yoshifumi Miyazaki

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5479; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17155479 - 29 Jul 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3191

Abstract

The aim of this study was to validate the psychological advantages of viewing forest landscapes. Moreover, the associations between trait anxiety levels and psychological responses were evaluated. A total of 650 university male students (age, 21.7 ± 1.6 years) viewed a scenery in [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to validate the psychological advantages of viewing forest landscapes. Moreover, the associations between trait anxiety levels and psychological responses were evaluated. A total of 650 university male students (age, 21.7 ± 1.6 years) viewed a scenery in a forested area and an urban area for 15 min. Furthermore, the Profile of Mood States questionnaire and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were employed for the assessment of the psychological responses and the level of trait anxiety, respectively, of the participants. Results showed that compared with viewing a city area, viewing forest areas increased positive mood state, such as vigor, and decreased negative mood states. Furthermore, trait anxiety level and changes in the psychological responses such as depression–dejection, fatigue, and confusion after viewing forest landscapes were significantly correlated. The participants with high anxiety levels had greater reduction in negative mood state, including confusion, than those with low anxiety levels. In conclusion, viewing forest landscapes induced psychological relaxation, which was more evident in individuals with high anxiety levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Experience of Urban Park and Forest Contributes to Preventive Medicine such as Lifestyle-related Diseases and Depression)

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18 pages, 3885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Psychological Effects of Watching Videos of Different Durations Showing Urban Bamboo Forests with Varied Structures

by Yuqian Wang, Mingyan Jiang, Yinshu Huang, Zhiyi Sheng, Xiao Huang, Wei Lin, Qibing Chen, Xi Li, Zhenghua Luo and Bingyang Lv

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(10), 3434; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103434 - 14 May 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3440

Abstract

This study illustrated the physiological and psychological effects of watching videos of different durations showing bamboo forests with varied structures. Physiological indicators, including EEG (electroencephalogram), blood pressure, skin conductance, and pulse, were monitored in 180 Chinese university students (mean age: 20.72 ± 2.56 [...] Read more.

This study illustrated the physiological and psychological effects of watching videos of different durations showing bamboo forests with varied structures. Physiological indicators, including EEG (electroencephalogram), blood pressure, skin conductance, and pulse, were monitored in 180 Chinese university students (mean age: 20.72 ± 2.56 years) while they were watching bamboo videos. Before and after watching the videos, their psychological indicators, including positive and negative moods, were measured using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire. After watching the bamboo videos of different durations, all of the physiological indicators responded to the stimulation after only 1 min. The indicators showed different trends at 1, 3 and 5 min. EEG decreased and then was maintained at a stable level after 1 min, and the high β, low β, and α waves had no significant differences between 1, 3 and 5 min. Blood pressure dropped to a stable state after 3 min, and the decline was significantly different greater after 3 min than after 1 min. Skin conductance increased for 1 to 5 min, and it did not stabilize after a long time (5 min). Pulse decreased after 1 min but increased after 5 min. After watching the videos with bamboo of varying structures, the physiological and psychological indicators showed significantly different changes. Skin conductance significantly increased (mean value: 6.78%), and the amount of sweat was more effectively reduced, thereby reducing tension, when the students viewed videos of sympodial bamboo forests compared with monopodial bamboo forests. Bamboo forests with a higher canopy density (0.83–0.85) could significantly decrease α waves (mean value: 1.50 Hz), relaxing the human body. High β and low β waves showed greater decreases, with tension reduced more effectively, when bamboo forests with a low tilt ratio (< 1.5%) were viewed. Bamboo forests with neat undergrowth could have more beneficial physiological and psychological effects on the human body. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Experience of Urban Park and Forest Contributes to Preventive Medicine such as Lifestyle-related Diseases and Depression)

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11 pages, 1404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Psychological Effects of a Campus Forest Therapy Program

by Jin Gun Kim, Tae Gyu Khil, Youngsuwn Lim, Kyungja Park, Minja Shin and Won Sop Shin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(10), 3409; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17103409 - 14 May 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3921

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the psychological effects of a campus forest therapy program. To evaluate these, pre-test and post-test control group design was employed. A total of 38 participants participated in this study (19 in the campus forest therapy program group, and [...] Read more.

This study aimed to examine the psychological effects of a campus forest therapy program. To evaluate these, pre-test and post-test control group design was employed. A total of 38 participants participated in this study (19 in the campus forest therapy program group, and 19 in control). The Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire and Modified form of the Stress Response Inventory (SRI-MF) were administered to each participant to assess psychological effects. The results of this study revealed that participants in the campus forest therapy program group had significantly positive increases in their mood and stress response compared with those of control group participants. In conclusion, the campus forest therapy program is an efficient strategy to provide psychological health benefits to university students and our study can inform decision-makers on the priority of the campus forest program in societal efforts to promote psychological well-being among university students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Experience of Urban Park and Forest Contributes to Preventive Medicine such as Lifestyle-related Diseases and Depression)

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13 pages, 1500 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measures to Promote Rural Healthcare Tourism with a Scientific Evidence-Based Approach

by Dawou Joung, Bohwi Lee, Jeongdo Lee, Changjun Lee, Seungmo Koo, Changwon Park, Sebin Kim, Takahide Kagawa and Bum-Jin Park

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(9), 3266; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17093266 - 07 May 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3071

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of physical activities on human health in forests in countryside and rural areas. The test experiment was conducted in a countryside forest, whereas the controlled experiment was conducted in an urban area where the study [...] Read more.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of physical activities on human health in forests in countryside and rural areas. The test experiment was conducted in a countryside forest, whereas the controlled experiment was conducted in an urban area where the study participants resided. A total of 22 participants (aged 20.9 ± 1.3 years) were evaluated in this study. Heart rate variability and salivary cortisol level were used as indices of physiological conditions, and semantic differential method, profile of mood states (POMS), and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) were used to evaluate the participants’ emotional states. The participants were asked to walk around forest and urban areas for 15 min. The results were as follows. As compared to the urban area, in the forest area, (1) the power of the high-frequency (HF) component of the heart rate variability (HRV) was significantly higher; (2) low-frequency (LF)/(LF + HF) was significantly lower; (3) salivary cortisol level was significantly lower; (4) the participants felt more comfortable, natural, relaxed, and less anxious and showed higher levels of positive emotions and lower levels of negative emotions. Consequently, walking in the forest area induces relaxing short-term physiological and psychological effects on young people living in urban areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Experience of Urban Park and Forest Contributes to Preventive Medicine such as Lifestyle-related Diseases and Depression)

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21 pages, 2117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carrying out Physical Activity as Part of the Active Forests Programme in England: What Encourages, Supports and Sustains Activity?—A Qualitative Study

by Liz O’Brien

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(24), 5118; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16245118 - 14 Dec 2019

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4138

Abstract

The Active Forests programme was developed through a partnership between Forestry England and Sport England. A three-year pilot programme focused on five forest sites ran from 2014. It was mainstreamed in April 2017 and is now running on eighteen forest sites in England [...] Read more.

The Active Forests programme was developed through a partnership between Forestry England and Sport England. A three-year pilot programme focused on five forest sites ran from 2014. It was mainstreamed in April 2017 and is now running on eighteen forest sites in England in 2019. The aim of the programme is to encourage a physical activity habit, and participants can get involved in a wide range of activities from Nordic walking to mountain biking, Pilates, running, and Bootcamp in different scenic forests. The aim of the research was to identify the motivations, benefits and the overall experience participants had from their forest physical activity. As part of the programme, qualitative data was gathered through in-situ participant observation, and interviews or focus groups. One hundred and twenty people were involved in the research. The findings identify some of the key elements of the programme that encourage, support and in some instances help to sustain or change physical activity. These include participants gaining a wide range of wellbeing benefits; appropriate targeted activities; opportunities for progression; social connections; providing challenge; and a supportive atmosphere. There is evidence of participants sustaining and changing physical activity practices, however attribution of this to the Active Forests programme is not straightforward. The programme is also explored through the lens of social practice theory and its concepts of materials, competence, and meanings. The research highlights how a targeted physical activity programme can reach and involve a broad range of people from the already physically active to those who are less active. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Experience of Urban Park and Forest Contributes to Preventive Medicine such as Lifestyle-related Diseases and Depression)

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14 pages, 2294 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Psychological Effects of Viewing Urban Parks in Different Seasons in Adults

by Prita Indah Pratiwi, Qiongying Xiang and Katsunori Furuya

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(21), 4279; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16214279 - 04 Nov 2019

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4643

Abstract

Although the health benefits of urban parks have gained significant attention, the effects of viewing park landscape on older adult residents have not commanded much research. This study aimed to investigate the physiological and psychological effects of viewing cherry blossoms in spring and [...] Read more.

Although the health benefits of urban parks have gained significant attention, the effects of viewing park landscape on older adult residents have not commanded much research. This study aimed to investigate the physiological and psychological effects of viewing cherry blossoms in spring and fresh greenery in early summer at urban parks. The experiments were conducted in two viewing spots in the same park in Japan during different seasons, and included 12 participants in both spring (mean age, 66.4 ± 10.5 years) and summer (mean age, 65.75 ± 10.1 years). Participants sat and viewed an urban park and city landscape for 11–15 min. Blood pressure was measured before and after the seated viewing while heart rate was measured continuously. Then, they evaluated the psychological responses using the Profile of Mood States and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Viewing cherry blossoms and fresh greenery in urban parks led to lower blood pressure in spring and early summer than viewing city areas in spring and early summer. Moreover, the score of vigor–activity was significantly higher; tension–anxiety was significantly lower in spring; and the state-anxiety level was significantly lower in early summer. The results of this study suggest that viewing urban parks results in physiological and psychological relaxation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Experience of Urban Park and Forest Contributes to Preventive Medicine such as Lifestyle-related Diseases and Depression)

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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

27 pages, 2922 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effect of Forest Therapy on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Poung-Sik Yeon, Jin-Young Jeon, Myeong-Seo Jung, Gyeong-Min Min, Ga-Yeon Kim, Kyung-Mi Han, Min-Ja Shin, Seong-Hee Jo, Jin-Gun Kim and Won-Sop Shin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12685; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182312685 - 01 Dec 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6106

Abstract

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of forest therapy on depression and anxiety using data obtained from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies. We searched SCOPUS, PubMed, MEDLINE(EBSCO), Web of science, Embase, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research [...] Read more.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of forest therapy on depression and anxiety using data obtained from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies. We searched SCOPUS, PubMed, MEDLINE(EBSCO), Web of science, Embase, Korean Studies Information Service System, Research Information Sharing Service, and DBpia to identify relevant studies published from January 1990 to December 2020 and identified 20 relevant studies for the synthesis. The methodological quality of eligible primary studies was assessed by ROB 2.0 and ROBINS-I. Most primary studies were conducted in the Republic of Korea except for one study in Poland. Overall, forest therapy significantly improved depression (Hedges’s g = 1.133; 95% confidence interval (CI): −1.491 to −0.775) and anxiety (Hedges’s g = 1.715; 95% CI: −2.519 to −0.912). The quality assessment resulted in five RCTs that raised potential concerns in three and high risk in two. Fifteen quasi-experimental studies raised high for nine quasi-experimental studies and moderate for six studies. In conclusion, forest therapy is preventive management and non-pharmacologic treatment to improve depression and anxiety. However, the included studies lacked methodological rigor and required more comprehensive geographic application. Future research needs to determine optimal forest characteristics and systematic activities that can maximize the improvement of depression and anxiety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Experience of Urban Park and Forest Contributes to Preventive Medicine such as Lifestyle-related Diseases and Depression)

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23 pages, 708 KiB

Open AccessReview

Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments

by Hyunju Jo, Chorong Song and Yoshifumi Miyazaki

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(23), 4739; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16234739 - 27 Nov 2019

Cited by 103 | Viewed by 14454

Abstract

Contact with nature has been proposed as a solution to achieve physiological relaxation and stress recovery, and a number of scientific verification outcomes have been shown. Compared with studies of the other senses, studies investigating the visual effects of nature have been at [...] Read more.

Contact with nature has been proposed as a solution to achieve physiological relaxation and stress recovery, and a number of scientific verification outcomes have been shown. Compared with studies of the other senses, studies investigating the visual effects of nature have been at the forefront of this research field. A variety of physiological indicators adopted for use in indoor experiments have shown the benefits of viewing nature. In this systematic review, we examined current peer-reviewed articles regarding the physiological effects of visual stimulation from elements or representations of nature in an indoor setting. The articles were analyzed for their stimulation method, physiological measures applied, groups of participants, and outcomes. Thirty-seven articles presenting evidence of the physiological effects of viewing nature were selected. The majority of the studies that used display stimuli, such as photos, 3D images, virtual reality, and videos of natural landscapes, confirmed that viewing natural scenery led to more relaxed body responses than viewing the control. Studies that used real nature stimuli reported that visual contact with flowers, green plants, and wooden materials had positive effects on cerebral and autonomic nervous activities compared with the control. Accumulation of scientific evidence of the physiological relaxation associated with viewing elements of nature would be useful for preventive medicine, specifically nature therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Experience of Urban Park and Forest Contributes to Preventive Medicine such as Lifestyle-related Diseases and Depression)

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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

29 pages, 1707 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

What Activities in Forests Are Beneficial for Human Health? A Systematic Review

by Sujin Park, Eunsoo Kim, Geonwoo Kim, Soojin Kim, Yeji Choi and Domyung Paek

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 2692; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19052692 - 25 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3183

Abstract

Over the past decade, clinical trials of forest-based interventions have increased, leading to their recognition as preventive medicine. However, little is known about the differences in health effects according to the activity characteristics of interventions. This study aimed to understand the types of [...] Read more.

Over the past decade, clinical trials of forest-based interventions have increased, leading to their recognition as preventive medicine. However, little is known about the differences in health effects according to the activity characteristics of interventions. This study aimed to understand the types of activities and their associated health effects to identify differences in health effects between activities. PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched, and methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane ROB2. A total of 32 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the eligibility criteria. Health outcomes were collected from 6264 participants aged 6–98 years, and the sample size was 12–585. The Interventions were walking (n = 21), staying (n = 7), exercise (n = 4), indirect exposure (n = 4), and the activity time was between 10 and 240 min. Overall, walking showed consistent positive health effects, and there were differences in effects on anxiety and depression, cognitive function, stress hormone, and inflammation according to the activity. However, most of the included studies had a high risk of bias, and interventions were limited to specific activities, durations, and frequencies. Although a few limitations remain, the findings in this study are of great significance in providing the basis for the design of forest-based interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Experience of Urban Park and Forest Contributes to Preventive Medicine such as Lifestyle-related Diseases and Depression)

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