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Physiological and Psychological Effects of Walking in Urban Parks and Its Imagery in Different Seasons in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Evidence from Matsudo City, Japan

Author

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  • Prita Indah Pratiwi

    (Department of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Jalan Raya Dramaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
    Department of Environmental Science and Landscape Architecture, Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, 648 Matsudo, Matsudo-shi, Chiba 271-8510, Japan)

  • Qiongying Xiang

    (Department of Environmental Science and Landscape Architecture, Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, 648 Matsudo, Matsudo-shi, Chiba 271-8510, Japan)

  • Katsunori Furuya

    (Department of Environmental Science and Landscape Architecture, Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University, 648 Matsudo, Matsudo-shi, Chiba 271-8510, Japan)

Abstract

The benefits of park therapy have been investigated in young adults, but rarely for middle-aged and older adults. This study evaluates the physiological and psychological effects of walking in urban parks and park therapy images in winter, spring, and early summer. The experiments were implemented in two walking courses in the urban park in Japan and involved 12 middle-aged and older adults. Participants walked on walking courses in an urban park and city street for 11–15 min. Their heart rate and blood pressure were evaluated to determine physiological responses. The Profile of Mood States (POMS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Landscape Image Sketching Technique (LIST) were used to determine psychological responses and spatial conditions. Walking in an urban park exhibited lower heart rates and blood pressure as compared to walking in the city. It was congruent with lowered negative moods, total mood disturbance (TMD) scores, and state anxiety, while the higher positive mood was observed in the urban parks as compared to the city. Images in winter displayed trees, relaxation, and comfort; in spring, water, activity, people, surrounding place, and recreational space; and in early summer, greenery, lawn, and broadness. In conclusion, walking in urban parks leads to physiological, psychological relaxation, and varied landscape appreciation.

Suggested Citation

  • Prita Indah Pratiwi & Qiongying Xiang & Katsunori Furuya, 2020. "Physiological and Psychological Effects of Walking in Urban Parks and Its Imagery in Different Seasons in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Evidence from Matsudo City, Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4003-:d:357734
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nadiia OLEKSIICHENKO & Nadiia GATALSKA & Mariana MAVKO, 2018. "The Colour-Forming Components Of Park Landscape And The Factors That Influence The Human Perception Of The Landscape Colouring," Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Research Centre in Public Administration and Public Services, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 13(2), pages 38-52, May.
    2. Ueda, Hirofumi & Nakajima, Toshihiro & Takayama, Norimasa & Petrova, Elena & Matsushima, Hajime & Furuya, Katsunori & Aoki, Yoji, 2012. "Landscape image sketches of forests in Japan and Russia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 20-30.
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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Visvizi & Shahira Assem Abdel-Razek & Roman Wosiek & Radosław Malik, 2021. "Conceptualizing Walking and Walkability in the Smart City through a Model Composite w 2 Smart City Utility Index," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Shixian Luo & Jing Xie & Huixin Wang & Qian Wang & Jie Chen & Zhenglun Yang & Katsunori Furuya, 2023. "Natural Dose of Blue Restoration: A Field Experiment on Mental Restoration of Urban Blue Spaces," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Fen Luo & Chen Wang & Haiqian Lei & Zhijun Xiao, 2023. "Young Adults’ Perception of Forests Using Landscape-Image-Sketching Technique: A Case Study of Changsha, Central China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2022. "Seasonal Differences in Physiological Responses to Walking in Urban Parks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-9, September.
    5. Jingrui Sun & Zhenjun Zhu & Ji Han & Zhanpeng He & Xinfang Xu, 2023. "Influence of the Built Environment on Older Adults’ Travel Time: Evidence from the Nanjing Metropolitan Area, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Qiongying Xiang & Zhengwei Yuan & Katsunori Furuya & Takahide Kagawa, 2022. "Verification of Psychophysiological Effects of Satoyama Activities on Older Adult Volunteers and Young People in Post-COVID-19 Society: A Case Study of Matsudo City, Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-15, August.

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