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Comparative Study of the Restorative Effects of Forest and Urban Videos during COVID-19 Lockdown: Intrinsic and Benchmark Values

Author

Listed:
  • Federica Zabini

    (Institute for Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Lorenzo Albanese

    (Institute for Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy)

  • Francesco Riccardo Becheri

    (Pian dei Termini Forest Therapy Station, 2311 Via Pratorsi, I-51028 San Marcello Piteglio, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Gioele Gavazzi

    (Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy)

  • Fiorenza Giganti

    (Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy)

  • Fabio Giovanelli

    (Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy)

  • Giorgio Gronchi

    (Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy)

  • Andrea Guazzini

    (Department of Education, Languages, Intercultural Studies, Literatures, and Psychology (FORLILPSI), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy)

  • Marco Laurino

    (Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 1 Via Giuseppe Moruzzi, I-56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Qing Li

    (Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine—Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan)

  • Tessa Marzi

    (Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy)

  • Francesca Mastorci

    (Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, 1 Via Giuseppe Moruzzi, I-56124 Pisa, Italy)

  • Francesco Meneguzzo

    (Institute for Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
    Central Scientific Committee, Italian Alpine Club, 19 Via E. Petrella, I-20124 Milano, Italy)

  • Stefania Righi

    (Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy)

  • Maria Pia Viggiano

    (Section of Psychology—Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child’s Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 12 Via di San Salvi, I-50135 Firenze, Italy)

Abstract

The prolonged lockdown imposed to contain the COrona VIrus Disease 19 COVID-19 pandemic prevented many people from direct contact with nature and greenspaces, raising alarms for a possible worsening of mental health. This study investigated the effectiveness of a simple and affordable remedy for improving psychological well-being, based on audio-visual stimuli brought by a short computer video showing forest environments, with an urban video as a control. Randomly selected participants were assigned the forest or urban video, to look at and listen to early in the morning, and questionnaires to fill out. In particular, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Form Y collected in baseline condition and at the end of the study and the Part II of the Sheehan Patient Rated Anxiety Scale (SPRAS) collected every day immediately before and after watching the video. The virtual exposure to forest environments showed effective to reduce perceived anxiety levels in people forced by lockdown in limited spaces and environmental deprivation. Although significant, the effects were observed only in the short term, highlighting the limitation of the virtual experiences. The reported effects might also represent a benchmark to disentangle the determinants of health effects due to real forest experiences, for example, the inhalation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC).

Suggested Citation

  • Federica Zabini & Lorenzo Albanese & Francesco Riccardo Becheri & Gioele Gavazzi & Fiorenza Giganti & Fabio Giovanelli & Giorgio Gronchi & Andrea Guazzini & Marco Laurino & Qing Li & Tessa Marzi & Fra, 2020. "Comparative Study of the Restorative Effects of Forest and Urban Videos during COVID-19 Lockdown: Intrinsic and Benchmark Values," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:8011-:d:437925
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Yibin Ao & Hao Zhu & Fanrong Meng & Yan Wang & Gui Ye & Linchuan Yang & Na Dong & Igor Martek, 2020. "The Impact of Social Support on Public Anxiety amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Nadav L. Sprague & Ashby L. Sachs & Christine C. Ekenga, 2022. "Green vs. Screen: Exploring the Outcomes of an In-Person and Virtual Nature-Based Environmental Education Intervention for Low-Income Children," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-11, October.
    7. Mi-Jung Kang & Hyun-Sun Kim & Ji-Yeon Kim, 2022. "Effects of Forest-Based Interventions on Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-13, April.
    8. Kirsten McEwan & Harriet Collett & Jean Nairn & Jamie Bird & Mark A. Faghy & Eric Pfeifer & Jessica E. Jackson & Caroline Cook & Amanda Bond, 2022. "The Feasibility and Impact of Practising Online Forest Bathing to Improve Anxiety, Rumination, Social Connection and Long-COVID Symptoms: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-12, November.
    9. Ferdinando Fornara & Elena Rinallo & Massimiliano Scopelliti, 2023. "Contact with Nature in Social Deprivation during COVID-19: The Positive Impact on Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-14, July.
    10. Rabya Mughal & Linda J. M. Thomson & Norma Daykin & Helen J. Chatterjee, 2022. "Rapid Evidence Review of Community Engagement and Resources in the UK during the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Can Community Assets Redress Health Inequities?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-18, March.
    11. Viola Benedetti & Gioele Gavazzi & Fiorenza Giganti & Elio Carlo & Francesco Riccardo Becheri & Federica Zabini & Fabio Giovannelli & Maria Pia Viggiano, 2023. "Virtual Forest Environment Influences Inhibitory Control," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, July.

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