IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i3p439-d203126.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/3/439/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/3/439/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    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.
    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. 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.
    2. Yuqian Wang & Huahong Qu & Tong Bai & Qibing Chen & Xi Li & Zhenghua Luo & Bingyang Lv & Mingyan Jiang, 2021. "Effects of Variations in Color and Organ of Color Expression in Urban Ornamental Bamboo Landscapes on the Physiological and Psychological Responses of College Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-19, January.
    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.
    4. Anna Heród & Bożena Szewczyk-Taranek & Bożena Pawłowska, 2024. "Enhancing Self-Esteem, Well-Being, and Relaxation in the Elderly through Nature-Based Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(7), pages 1-15, July.

    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. Albert Bach Pagès & Josep Peñuelas & Jana Clarà & Joan Llusià & Ferran Campillo i López & Roser Maneja, 2020. "How Should Forests Be Characterized in Regard to Human Health? Evidence from Existing Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Sus Sola Corazon & Ulrik Sidenius & Dorthe Varning Poulsen & Marie Christoffersen Gramkow & Ulrika Karlsson Stigsdotter, 2019. "Psycho-Physiological Stress Recovery in Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of the Past Eight Years of Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-21, May.
    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.
    4. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2016. "Physiological Effects of Nature Therapy: A Review of the Research in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-17, August.
    5. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Takahide Kagawa & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2019. "Effects of Walking in a Forest on Young Women," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-12, January.
    6. Agnes Peterfalvi & Matyas Meggyes & Lilla Makszin & Nelli Farkas & Eva Miko & Attila Miseta & Laszlo Szereday, 2021. "Forest Bathing Always Makes Sense: Blood Pressure-Lowering and Immune System-Balancing Effects in Late Spring and Winter in Central Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, February.
    7. 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.
    8. Chengcheng Zeng & Bingyang Lyu & Songyuan Deng & Yan Yu & Nian Li & Wei Lin & Di Li & Qibing Chen, 2020. "Benefits of a Three-Day Bamboo Forest Therapy Session on the Physiological Responses of University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-17, May.
    9. Francesco Meneguzzo & Lorenzo Albanese & Giorgio Bartolini & Federica Zabini, 2019. "Temporal and Spatial Variability of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Forest Atmosphere," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-24, December.
    10. Emilia Janeczko & Krzysztof Czyżyk & Małgorzata Woźnicka & Tomasz Dudek & Jitka Fialova & Natalia Korcz, 2024. "The Importance of Forest Management in Psychological Restoration: Exploring the Effects of Landscape Change in a Suburban Forest," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, September.
    11. Poung-Sik Yeon & In-Ok Kim & Si-Nae Kang & Nee-Eun Lee & Ga-Yeon Kim & Gyeong-Min Min & Chung-Yeub Chung & Jung-Sok Lee & Jin-Gun Kim & Won-Sop Shin, 2022. "Effects of Urban Forest Therapy Program on Depression Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, December.
    12. Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo & Nicolas Escoffier & Jane Chan & Tan Puay Yok, 2018. "Window View and the Brain: Effects of Floor Level and Green Cover on the Alpha and Beta Rhythms in a Passive Exposure EEG Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-14, October.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. Kheng Siang Ted Ng & Angelia Sia & Maxel K. W. Ng & Crystal T. Y. Tan & Hui Yu Chan & Chay Hoon Tan & Iris Rawtaer & Lei Feng & Rathi Mahendran & Anis Larbi & Ee Heok Kua & Roger C. M. Ho, 2018. "Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Asian Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, August.
    16. Hyeyun Kim & Yong Won Lee & Hyo Jin Ju & Bong Jin Jang & Yeong In Kim, 2019. "An Exploratory Study on the Effects of Forest Therapy on Sleep Quality in Patients with Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-7, July.
    17. 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.
    18. Hyeyun Kim & Jayoung Kim & Hyo Jin Ju & Bong Jin Jang & Tae Kyu Wang & Yeong In Kim, 2020. "Effect of Forest Therapy for Menopausal Women with Insomnia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-8, September.
    19. Ya-Hui Chung & Shiu-Jen Chen & Ching-Luug Lee & Chun-Wei Wu & Yu-Sen Chang, 2022. "Relaxing Effects of Breathing Pseudotsuga menziesii and Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oils on Psychophysiological Status in Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-13, November.
    20. Pei-Chun Tu & Wen-Chen Cheng & Ping-Cheng Hou & Yu-Sen Chang, 2020. "Effects of Types of Horticultural Activity on the Physical and Mental State of Elderly Individuals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-13, July.

    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:16:y:2019:i:3:p:439-:d:203126. 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.