IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v11y2014i7p7207-7230d38143.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/7/7207/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/7/7207/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Larissa Samaan & Leonie Klock & Sandra Weber & Mirjam Reidick & Leonie Ascone & Simone Kühn, 2024. "Low-Level Visual Features of Window Views Contribute to Perceived Naturalness and Mental Health Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-35, May.
    2. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Bum-Jin Park & Juyoung Lee & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Psychological Benefits of Walking through Forest Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Migle Baceviciene & Rasa Jankauskiene, 2022. "The Mediating Effect of Nature Restorativeness, Stress Level, and Nature Connectedness in the Association between Nature Exposure and Quality of Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Jake M. Robinson & Martin F. Breed, 2019. "Green Prescriptions and Their Co-Benefits: Integrative Strategies for Public and Environmental Health," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-14, January.
    5. Ben Senkler & Julius Freymueller & Susanne Lopez Lumbi & Claudia Hornberg & Hannah-Lea Schmid & Kristina Hennig-Fast & Gernot Horstmann & Timothy Mc Call, 2022. "Urbanicity—Perspectives from Neuroscience and Public Health: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Hiromi Suenaga & Kanako Murakami & Nozomi Murata & Syoriki Nishikawa & Masae Tsutsumi & Hiroshi Nogaki, 2020. "The Effects of an Artificial Garden on Heart Rate Variability among Healthy Young Japanese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Anna Oudin & Lennart Bråbäck & Daniel Oudin Åström & Bertil Forsberg, 2017. "Air Pollution and Dispensed Medications for Asthma, and Possible Effect Modifiers Related to Mental Health and Socio-Economy: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of Swedish Children and Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-12, November.
    8. Kyunghun Min & Baysok Jun & Jaehyuck Lee & Hong Kim & Katsunori Furuya, 2019. "Analysis of Environmental Issues with an Application of Civil Complaints: The Case of Shiheung City, Republic of Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    9. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Miho Igarashi & Michiko Takagaki & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2015. "Physiological and Psychological Effects of a Walk in Urban Parks in Fall," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, November.
    10. Brittany E Evans & Kirstin Greaves-Lord & Anja S Euser & Joke H M Tulen & Ingmar H A Franken & Anja C Huizink, 2013. "Determinants of Physiological and Perceived Physiological Stress Reactivity in Children and Adolescents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-13, April.
    11. Pykett, Jessica & Campbell, Niyah & Fenton, Sarah-Jane & Gagen, Elizabeth & Lavis, Anna & Newbigging, Karen & Parkin, Verity & Williams, Jessy, 2023. "Urban precarity and youth mental health: An interpretive scoping review of emerging approaches," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    12. Brittany E Evans & Anja C Huizink & Kirstin Greaves-Lord & Joke H M Tulen & Karin Roelofs & Jan van der Ende, 2020. "Urbanicity, biological stress system functioning and mental health in adolescents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-24, March.
    13. Charalambous, Efrosini, 2023. "Neurourbanism and Neuroarchitecture: How can Cognitive Sciences Inform Design?," OSF Preprints 6f4uc, Center for Open Science.
    14. Na Lu & Chorong Song & Takanori Kuronuma & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki & Michiko Takagaki, 2020. "The Possibility of Sustainable Urban Horticulture Based on Nature Therapy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-11, June.
    15. Johan Colding & Karl Samuelsson & Lars Marcus & Åsa Gren & Ann Legeby & Meta Berghauser Pont & Stephan Barthel, 2022. "Frontiers in Social–Ecological Urbanism," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
    16. Ulrich Dettweiler & Christoph Becker & Bjørn H. Auestad & Perikles Simon & Peter Kirsch, 2017. "Stress in School. Some Empirical Hints on the Circadian Cortisol Rhythm of Children in Outdoor and Indoor Classes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-14, April.
    17. Bessa, Eduardo & Gonçalves-de-Freitas, Eliane, 2014. "How does tourist monitoring alter fish behavior in underwater trails?," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 253-259.
    18. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Bum-Jin Park & Juyoung Lee & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2020. "Association between the Psychological Effects of Viewing Forest Landscapes and Trait Anxiety Level," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-9, July.
    19. Zhao, Yabo & Wang, Shaojian & Ge, Yuejing & Liu, Qianqian & Liu, Xiaofeng, 2017. "The spatial differentiation of the coupling relationship between urbanization and the eco-environment in countries globally: A comprehensive assessment," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 360(C), pages 313-327.
    20. Wilma L Zijlema & Bart Klijs & Ronald P Stolk & Judith G M Rosmalen, 2015. "(Un)Healthy in the City: Respiratory, Cardiometabolic and Mental Health Associated with Urbanity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-11, December.

    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:11:y:2014:i:7:p:7207-7230:d:38143. 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.