Abstract
This study aimed to clarify the psychological benefits of brief walks through forest areas. In addition, we aimed to examine the associations between psychological responses and trait anxiety levels. Five-hundred-and-eighty-five participants (mean age, 21.7 ± 1.6 years) were instructed to walk predetermined courses through forest (test) and city (control) areas for 15 min. The Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to assess participants’ psychological responses and trait anxiety levels, respectively. The results revealed that walking through forest areas decreased the negative moods of “depression-dejection”, “tension-anxiety”, “anger-hostility”, “fatigue”, and “confusion” and improved the participants’ positive mood of “vigor” compared with walking through city areas. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between participants’ trait anxiety levels and their changes in the subscale of “depression-dejection” of POMS after walking through forest areas. A more effective reduction in the feeling of “depression-dejection” after walking through forest areas was observed for participants with high trait anxiety levels than for those with normal and low trait anxiety levels. This study showed the psychological benefits of walking through forest areas and identified a significant correlation between psychological responses to walking through forests and trait anxiety levels.
Highlights
As individuals are exposed to several stressors in daily life, they attempt to adopt effective methods for coping with stress and for relaxing
After walking through forest areas was observed for participants with high trait anxiety levels than for those with normal and low trait anxiety levels
This study showed the psychological benefits of walking through forest areas and identified a significant correlation between psychological responses to walking through forests and trait anxiety levels
Summary
As individuals are exposed to several stressors in daily life, they attempt to adopt effective methods for coping with stress and for relaxing. The positive effects of nature on physical and mental health have been recently reported [1,2,3,4], and the concept of natural therapy has been developed. Nature therapy is defined as “a set of practices aimed at achieving ‘preventive medical effects’ through exposure to natural stimuli that render a state of physiological relaxation and boost the weakened immune functions to prevent diseases” [2]. Nature therapy seeks to improve immune functions, prevent illnesses, and maintain and promote health through exposures to nature with consequent attainment of a relaxed state [1,2]. Public Health 2018, 15, 2804; doi:10.3390/ijerph15122804 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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