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Emotional, Restorative and Vitalizing Effects of Forest and Urban Environments at Four Sites in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Norimasa Takayama

    (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan)

  • Kalevi Korpela

    (School of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Tampere, Kalevantie 4, Tampere FI-33104, Finland)

  • Juyoung Lee

    (Korea Forest Service, Government Complex 1, 189 Cheongsa-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 302-701, Korea)

  • Takeshi Morikawa

    (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan)

  • Yuko Tsunetsugu

    (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan)

  • Bum-Jin Park

    (College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu Daejeon 305-764, Korea)

  • Qing Li

    (Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan)

  • Liisa Tyrväinen

    (Finnish Forest Research Institute (METLA), PO Box 18 (Jokiniemenkuja 1), Vantaa FI-01301, Finland)

  • Yoshifumi Miyazaki

    (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan)

  • Takahide Kagawa

    (Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan)

Abstract

The present study investigated the well-being effects of short-term forest walking and viewing (“forest bathing”). The hypothesis in our study was that both environment (forest vs. urban) and activity (walking and viewing) would influence psychological outcomes. An additional aim was to enhance basic research using several psychological methods. We conducted the experiments using 45 respondents in four areas of Japan from August to September, 2011. The hypothesis in our study was supported, because significant interaction terms between the environment and activity were confirmed regarding the Profile of Mood States (POMS) indexes, Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS) and Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS). No statistical differences between the two experimental groups in any of the ten scales were found before the experiment. However, feelings of vigor and positive effects, as well as feelings of subjective recovery and vitality were stronger in the forest environment than in the urban environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Norimasa Takayama & Kalevi Korpela & Juyoung Lee & Takeshi Morikawa & Yuko Tsunetsugu & Bum-Jin Park & Qing Li & Liisa Tyrväinen & Yoshifumi Miyazaki & Takahide Kagawa, 2014. "Emotional, Restorative and Vitalizing Effects of Forest and Urban Environments at Four Sites in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:7:p:7207-7230:d:38143
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Florian Lederbogen & Peter Kirsch & Leila Haddad & Fabian Streit & Heike Tost & Philipp Schuch & Stefan Wüst & Jens C. Pruessner & Marcella Rietschel & Michael Deuschle & Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, 2011. "City living and urban upbringing affect neural social stress processing in humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7352), pages 498-501, June.
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