Abstract
Many studies have proved that having nature experiences in forests is conducive to human physiological and psychological health. However, currently there is little research focusing on the effects of forest characteristics and the experiential characteristics of nature experiences on changes in health. In the study, three types of forest (mixed forest; deciduous forest; coniferous forest) and an urban site were used to measure the effects of these environments on participants’ physiological and psychological restoration after nature experience activities (sitting and walking activities). The study participants were 30 young adult students from Beijing Forestry University. Restorative effects were measured by physiological indicators (blood pressure and heart rate) and four psychological questionnaires (Profile of Mood States (POMS); Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS); Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS); Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS)). Results demonstrated that all types of forest were beneficial to lower blood pressure and heart rate as well as to reduce negative feelings while boosting positive emotions. The mixed forest was more effective in lowering blood pressure and heart rate as well as increasing vitality. The levels of restoration and positive mental health increased significantly, while all subscales of the POMS (with the exception of vigor) decreased greatly in the coniferous forest. Relative to the sitting activity, obvious decreases in blood pressure and negative emotions were observed, while significant increases in restoration, vitality and positive mental health were observed after the walking activity. In conclusion, the impact on subjects’ health restoration varied with different forest characteristics, and the experiential characteristics of exposure may be helpful for creating supportive interventions and lifting the benefits of forest therapy as people interact with the forest.
Highlights
Urbanization has promoted social and economic development while causing negative effects on nature’s ecosystem
The walking activity in the mixed and deciduous forest was correlated with a decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP), with a better decrease the mixed forest, the walking activity there was a decrease in blood pressure andinheart rate after thebut sitting activity in all three forests, with the strongest decrease in the mixed forest andThe the values lowest of decrease in the in the coniferous forest was related with an increase in SBP
The scores on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) were observed to increase in all forests, while they decreased in the city site
Summary
Urbanization has promoted social and economic development while causing negative effects on nature’s ecosystem. An increasing number of studies have confirmed the restorative effects between nature and physiological and psychological well-being [5,6], including the prevention of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases [7,8], reduction of stress levels [9], lifting of mood condition [10,11,12] as well as the restoration and sustainment of vitality [13,14,15]. Restorative effects refer to the restoration and replenishment, or updating effects of restorative environments on people’s depleted physical, psychological or social resources and abilities that are constantly consumed under stress conditions; that is, the effect of the reduction in stress and the decrease of various negative emotions as well as the promotion of psychological and physical health [16,17]
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