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 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.
Highlights
In the last several decades, due to compressive industrialization and modernization after the 1960s, Korea has achieved a rapid economic growth [1]
An analysis was urban area, indicating that cortisol levels were by 13.33% lower in the forest area than in the urban performed at 1-min interval, and the results showed that the LF/(LF + HF) value was lower in the area (p < 0.01; Figure 4)
The study to evaluate effectsfor ofrural walking in forests in rural areas on young people living in aimed urban areas and to the lay short-term the groundwork tourism with scientific evidence-based
Summary
In the last several decades, due to compressive industrialization and modernization after the 1960s, Korea has achieved a rapid economic growth [1]. Previous studies [6,7,8] have reported that, primary industries, such as forestry and agriculture are declining, tourism becomes a tool to help creating local jobs and raising the level of economic welfare Based on these studies, the Korean government has used more regional resources and pursued policies targeting urban–rural coordination and regional synergies, encouraging community participation, and focusing on rural, green, and eco-tourism [9]. Volatile essential oils from Chamaecyparis obtusa were reported to provide physiological relaxing effects [31], immunity improvement [32], and antibacterial and antifungal effects [33] Based on such scientific evidence, South Korea is trying to revitalize the rural tourism aimed at health care through the forest resources, which account for 63% of the nation’s total land [34]. Short-term walking in the forest in rural areas will make one feel more comfortable, natural, and relaxed
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