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Psycho-Physiological Effects of a Peony-Viewing Program on Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals at Different Phenological Stages

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  • Ren-Lin Zhao

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Gang Zhang

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Xi Wang

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Bo-Tong Zhang

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Li-Na Guo

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Li-Xin Niu

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Yan-Long Zhang

    (College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

Abstract

To address the question of whether the behavior of humans to view different phenological peony flowers has various effects on their physical and mental parameters, we investigated psycho-physiological responses of 74 participants (61.3 ± 10.78 years old) to environments of pre- and post-viewing tree peonies at four stages, including the exhibition leaf stage (ELS), initial bloom stage (IBS), full bloom stage (FBS), and terminal bloom stage (TBS). Physiological factors were examined using systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), fingertip pulse (FP), blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ), and psychological evaluation, which was carried out using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The results indicated that the SBP, DBP, HR, and FP levels of participants were significantly reduced after viewing tree peonies, whereas no remarkable alterations in SpO 2 were found. The POMS scores of anger–hostility (A–H), fatigue–inertia (F–I), tension–anxiety (T–A), confusion–bewilderment (C–B), and depression–dejection (D–D) were significantly lower, but of vigor–activity (V–A) was higher post-viewing than pre-viewing. Furthermore, participants exhibited markedly decreased anxiety levels according to the STAI. Notably, the changes in measurement indices were more pronounced at the FBS. Our studies demonstrated that a short peony-viewing program, especially at the FBS with completely opened and large tree peony flowers, would be a promising therapeutic method for improving physiological functions as well as an effective psychological relaxation strategy for middle-aged and elderly individuals.

Suggested Citation

  • Ren-Lin Zhao & Gang Zhang & Xi Wang & Bo-Tong Zhang & Li-Na Guo & Li-Xin Niu & Yan-Long Zhang, 2019. "Psycho-Physiological Effects of a Peony-Viewing Program on Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals at Different Phenological Stages," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-13, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:3:p:439-:d:203126
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hiroko Ochiai & Harumi Ikei & Chorong Song & Maiko Kobayashi & Takashi Miura & Takahide Kagawa & Qing Li & Shigeyoshi Kumeda & Michiko Imai & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2015. "Physiological and Psychological Effects of a Forest Therapy Program on Middle-Aged Females," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2015. "Elucidation of a Physiological Adjustment Effect in a Forest Environment: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-9, April.
    3. Chia-Pin Yu & Chia-Min Lin & Ming-Jer Tsai & Yu-Chieh Tsai & Chun-Yu Chen, 2017. "Effects of Short Forest Bathing Program on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Mood States in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, August.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Juan Du & Jiali Yin & Xiaomei Chen & Ahmad Hassan & Erkang Fu & Xi Li, 2022. "Electroencephalography (EEG)-Based Neural Emotional Response to Flower Arrangements (FAs) on Normal Elderly (NE) and Cognitively Impaired Elderly (CIE)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-9, March.
    3. Junfang Xie & Binyi Liu & Mohamed Elsadek, 2021. "How Can Flowers and Their Colors Promote Individuals’ Physiological and Psychological States during the COVID-19 Lockdown?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, September.

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