Abstract
Frequent bathtub bathing (BB) improves the mental health of middle-aged and older Japanese in-dividuals. This study investigated the chronic mental health effects of BB, maintaining warmth using an insulating sheet and sleeping bag after bathtub bathing (BBW), and bathtub bathing with herbal extracts (BBH) in healthy young adults. The study involved healthy young adults who habitually showered, as opposed to bathing. In the first experiment, 18 participants were randomly assigned to either the BB or BBW groups for 14 consecutive nights. After a 2-week washout period, the participants were asked to switch their bathing styles (a cross-over design). In the second experiment, 20 participants were randomly assigned to the BB or BBH group. The herbal extracts for the BBH group contained angelicae radix, aurantii nobilis pericarpium, chamomile, and zingiberis rhizoma. After a 2-week washout period, these participants also switched to the other bathing style. The participants’ mental conditions pre- and post-intervention were assessed using the Profile of Mood States-Brief Form questionnaire, Japanese version, and were statistically analyzed. The participants’ Anger-Hostility score converged to an average (50 points) in the post-BBW and post-BBH participants, and there were no significant differences in BB. The Confusion change rate was significantly different in the first experiment (BB versus BBW). The Depression-Dejection and Fatigue change rates were significantly different in the second experiment (BB versus BBH). Our findings suggest that changing bathing style from showering to BBW or BBH improves the POMS Anger-Hostility scores of healthy young adults.
Highlights
The characteristics of most mental disorders in young people arise during youth (12 - 24 years of age) [1]
This study investigated the chronic effects of three bathing styles, Bathtub bathing (BB), maintaining warmth with an insulated sheet and sleeping bag after bathtub bathing (BBW), and bathtub bathing with herbal extracts (BBH), on the mental health condition of healthy, young adults
The postBB Tension-Anxiety score converged on the 50-point mark, compared with preBB; there were no significant differences among the other scales during the BB portion of the study (Figure 3)
Summary
The characteristics of most mental disorders in young people arise during youth (12 - 24 years of age) [1]. Hunt et al [2] reported the results of questionnaire data from students at 26 colleges and universities in the United States in 2007 and 2009, revealing a number of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety disorders. Bathing is a habit of Japanese people for cleansing and refreshing oneself. Ishizawa et al [4] reported that frequent BB improves the mental health of middle-aged Japanese individuals, and Hayasaka et al [5] reported similar results for elderly Japanese individuals. Bathing with herbal extracts increases peripheral blood circulation, helping to maintain body warmth after bathing, and providing a feeling of relief among middle-aged Japanese individuals [6]-[9]
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