Physiological and Psychological Effects of Walking in and Viewing Autumn Forests in Urban Park in Japanese and Indonesian Adults

Abstract

Abstract Park therapy can improve mental health and reduce stress levels. We investigated how walking in and viewing autumn forests affected people’s physiological and psychological responses. The experiments were carried out on one walking route to one viewing point in urban park and city street and involved 20 adults. Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored to evaluate physiological effects, while the Profile of Mood States and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were employed to assess psychological effects. Walking along the edge of an autumn forest may have resulted in a lower heart rate and systolic blood pressure than walking in the city street. The average heart rate of Japanese adults was significantly lower than that of Indonesians. All negative mood states were lower; vigor was higher after viewing autumn forests in Indonesians than in Japanese. Confusion, tension, and total mood disturbance were lower in Japanese than in Indonesians after viewing the autumn forest. The anxiety level was lower after walking among Indonesians and viewing the autumn forest among all adults. Finally, walking in and viewing autumn forests in an urban park leads to physiological and psychological relaxation.