IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i22p12224-d684281.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Relationship between the Restorative Perception of the Environment and the Physiological and Psychological Effects of Different Types of Forests on University Students

Author

Listed:
  • Qiaohui Liu

    (College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Xiaoping Wang

    (College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Jinglan Liu

    (School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Guolin Zhang

    (Management and Protection Center, Xiaolongshan National Nature Conservation, Tianshui 741020, China)

  • Congying An

    (School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Yuqi Liu

    (School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Xiaoli Fan

    (School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Yishen Hu

    (School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Heng Zhang

    (Ming Dynasty Tombs Forest Farm, Beijing 102200, China)

Abstract

Short-term exposure to a forest environment is beneficial to human physiological and psychological health. However, there is little known about the relationship between the restorative perception of environment and physiological and psychological restoration achieved by experiencing the forest environment. This study evaluated the relationship between the restorative perception of different types of forests and human physiological and psychological effects. A sample of 30 young adult students from Beijing Forestry University was exposed to coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests as well as an urban site. Restorative perception of the environment was measured using the PRS questionnaire. Restorative effects were measured using physiological indicators (blood pressure and heart rate) and three psychological questionnaires (Restorative Outcome Scale; Subjective Vitality Scale; Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale). The results demonstrated the following: (1) There were significant differences in the perceived restorative power of the three types of forests, with the highest level in the mixed forest, followed by the coniferous forest and the deciduous forest. (2) All types of forests were beneficial to physiological and psychological restoration. The mixed forest had the greatest effect in lowering blood pressure and heart rate as well as increasing vitality, while the coniferous forest had the strongest increases in psychological restoration and positive mental health. (3) The level of perceived restorative power of environment was positively related to the physiological and psychological restoration. These findings provide practical evidence for forest therapy that can maximize the restorative potential of forests.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiaohui Liu & Xiaoping Wang & Jinglan Liu & Guolin Zhang & Congying An & Yuqi Liu & Xiaoli Fan & Yishen Hu & Heng Zhang, 2021. "The Relationship between the Restorative Perception of the Environment and the Physiological and Psychological Effects of Different Types of Forests on University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:12224-:d:684281
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/22/12224/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/22/12224/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gianluca Grilli & Sandro Sacchelli, 2020. "Health Benefits Derived from Forest: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-11, August.
    2. Melissa R. Marselle & Katherine N. Irvine & Altea Lorenzo-Arribas & Sara L. Warber, 2014. "Moving beyond Green: Exploring the Relationship of Environment Type and Indicators of Perceived Environmental Quality on Emotional Well-Being following Group Walks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-25, December.
    3. 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.
    4. Lucy E. Keniger & Kevin J. Gaston & Katherine N. Irvine & Richard A. Fuller, 2013. "What are the Benefits of Interacting with Nature?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-23, March.
    5. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bixue Huang & Yang Zhao & Jiahao Yang & Wanying Wang & Tongye Guo & Xinyi Luo & Meng Du, 2024. "Thermal Comfort and Restorative Benefits of Waterfront Green Spaces for College Students in Hot and Humid Regions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-24, October.
    2. Song Song & Ruoxiang Tu & Yao Lu & Shi Yin & Hankun Lin & Yiqiang Xiao, 2022. "Restorative Effects from Green Exposure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-22, November.
    3. Hanbin Shen & Xuecong He & Jing He & Danming Li & Mingjie Liang & Xubin Xie, 2024. "Back to the Village: Assessing the Effects of Naturalness, Landscape Types, and Landscape Elements on the Restorative Potential of Rural Landscapes," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-30, June.
    4. Kuntong Huang & Taiyang Wang & Xueshun Li & Ruinan Zhang & Yu Dong, 2024. "Predicting and Optimizing Restorativeness in Campus Pedestrian Spaces based on Vision Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-26, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alexandra Jiricka-Pürrer & Valeria Tadini & Boris Salak & Karolina Taczanowska & Andrzej Tucki & Giulio Senes, 2019. "Do Protected Areas Contribute to Health and Well-Being? A Cross-Cultural Comparison," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Kathleen L. Wolf & Sharon T. Lam & Jennifer K. McKeen & Gregory R.A. Richardson & Matilda van den Bosch & Adrina C. Bardekjian, 2020. "Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-30, June.
    3. Chia-Pin Yu & Heng-Ting Chen & Pei-Hua Chao & Jie Yin & Ming-Jer Tsai, 2021. "The Role of Social Context in Physiological and Psychological Restoration in a Forest: Case Study of a Guided Forest Therapy Program in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Congying An & Jinglan Liu & Qiaohui Liu & Yuqi Liu & Xiaoli Fan & Yishen Hu, 2022. "How Perceived Sensory Dimensions of Forest Park Are Associated with Stress Restoration in Beijing?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Cheng, Yingyi & Zhao, Bing & Peng, Siqi & Li, Kai & Yin, Yue & Zhang, Jinguang, 2024. "Effects of cultural landscape service features in national forest parks on visitors’ sentiments: A nationwide social media-based analysis in China," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    6. Katja Oomen-Welke & Evelyn Schlachter & Tina Hilbich & Johannes Naumann & Alexander Müller & Thilo Hinterberger & Roman Huber, 2022. "Spending Time in the Forest or the Field: Investigations on Stress Perception and Psychological Well-Being—A Randomized Cross-Over Trial in Highly Sensitive Persons," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-13, November.
    7. Eunjin Kim & Hwayong Lee, 2023. "Seasonal Forest Changes of Color and Temperature: Effects on the Mood and Physiological State of University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-16, July.
    8. Kyung-Sook Bang & Sungjae Kim & Gumhee Lee & Sinyoung Choi & Da-Ae Shin & Misook Kim, 2021. "The Development of a Health Promotion Program for Unmarried Mothers Living in Residential Facilities Using Urban Forests: An Intervention Mapping Approach Based on the Transtheoretical Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-19, August.
    9. Teresa Romanillos & Roser Maneja & Diego Varga & Llorenç Badiella & Martí Boada, 2018. "Protected Natural Areas: In Sickness and in Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, October.
    10. Qiang Wen & Haiqiang Liu & Jinyuan Chen & Huiyao Ye & Zeyu Pan, 2023. "Evaluation of Satisfaction with the Built Environment of University Buildings under the Epidemic and Its Impact on Student Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-23, February.
    11. Martina Zorić & Jelena Farkić & Marko Kebert & Emina Mladenović & Dragić Karaklić & Gorana Isailović & Saša Orlović, 2022. "Developing Forest Therapy Programmes Based on the Health Benefits of Terpenes in Dominant Tree Species in Tara National Park (Serbia)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-15, May.
    12. Daniela Huber & Johanna Freidl & Christina Pichler & Michael Bischof & Martin Kiem & Renate Weisböck-Erdheim & Gabriella Squarra & Vincenzo De Nigris & Stefan Resnyak & Marcel Neberich & Susanna Bordi, 2023. "Long-Term Effects of Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy on Physical and Mental Health of Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-20, January.
    13. Konrad Reuß & Christopher Huth, 2024. "Redefining Urban Recreation: A Demand Analysis for Urban Year-Round Green Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(11), pages 1-10, November.
    14. Aleksandra Kosanic & Karsten Lambers & Stamatia Galata & Katja Kothieringer & Angelika Abderhalden, 2023. "Importance of Cultural Ecosystem Services for Cultural Identity and Wellbeing in the Lower Engadine, Switzerland," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-14, December.
    15. Phi-Yen Nguyen & Thomas Astell-Burt & Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-38, October.
    16. Liyuan Liang & Like Gobeawan & Siu-Kit Lau & Ervine Shengwei Lin & Kai Keng Ang, 2024. "Urban Green Spaces and Mental Well-Being: A Systematic Review of Studies Comparing Virtual Reality versus Real Nature," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-16, May.
    17. Xueling Zhang & Ruoxuan Huang & Yixuan Yang, 2022. "On the Landscape Activity Measure Coupling Ecological Index and Public Vitality Index of UGI: The Case Study of Zhongshan, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-32, October.
    18. Jin Young Jeon & In Ok Kim & Poung-sik Yeon & Won Sop Shin, 2021. "The Physio-Psychological Effect of Forest Therapy Programs on Juvenile Probationers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    19. Lissy Fehnker & Diane Pearson & Peter Howland, 2022. "Informing Future Land Systems Using Self-Reported Pathways and Barriers to Connections to Nature: A Case Study in Auckland, New Zealand," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, October.
    20. Kinga Kimic & Albert Fekete, 2022. "The Ratio of Biologically Vital Areas as a Measure of the Sustainability of Urban Parks Using the Example of Budapest, Hungary," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-16, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:12224-:d:684281. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.