Impact of sleeping in a forest on sleep quality and mental well-being

Abstract

Forest ecosystems have been acknowledged as a viable intervention for mitigating mental stress. However, there is a scarcity of research investigating the impact of forest environments on sleep. This study primarily investigated the physiological and psychological effects of sleep in a forest environment. It included a sample of 50 Chinese young adult students. A comparative analysis was conducted to examine the impact of sleeping in a forest environment as opposed to a controlled room setting (control). The researchers collected data on blood pressure, electroencephalography (EEG), and psychological markers. There was a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure after the participants slept in a forest environment compared to when they slept in a room (control). Moreover, a notable increase in alpha- and beta-wave frequencies was detected in the forest environment. A more pronounced reduction in anxiety scores was observed in those exposed to a forest environment compared to those in the control group. The physiological and psychological data presented in this study demonstrate that engaging in forest leisure positively affects both physical and mental relaxation in young adults.