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Measures to Promote Rural Healthcare Tourism with a Scientific Evidence-Based Approach

Author

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  • Dawou Joung

    (Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea)

  • Bohwi Lee

    (Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea)

  • Jeongdo Lee

    (Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea)

  • Changjun Lee

    (Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea)

  • Seungmo Koo

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea)

  • Changwon Park

    (Gyeonggi Regional Headquarter, Korea Rural Community Corporation, 347 Jangan-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do 16346, Korea)

  • Sebin Kim

    (Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea)

  • Takahide Kagawa

    (Forestry and Forest Products Research Insitute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan)

  • Bum-Jin Park

    (Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea)

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of physical activities on human health in forests in countryside and rural areas. The test experiment was conducted in a countryside forest, whereas the controlled experiment was conducted in an urban area where the study participants resided. A total of 22 participants (aged 20.9 ± 1.3 years) were evaluated in this study. Heart rate variability and salivary cortisol level were used as indices of physiological conditions, and semantic differential method, profile of mood states (POMS), and state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) were used to evaluate the participants’ emotional states. The participants were asked to walk around forest and urban areas for 15 min. The results were as follows. As compared to the urban area, in the forest area, (1) the power of the high-frequency (HF) component of the heart rate variability (HRV) was significantly higher; (2) low-frequency (LF)/(LF + HF) was significantly lower; (3) salivary cortisol level was significantly lower; (4) the participants felt more comfortable, natural, relaxed, and less anxious and showed higher levels of positive emotions and lower levels of negative emotions. Consequently, walking in the forest area induces relaxing short-term physiological and psychological effects on young people living in urban areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Dawou Joung & Bohwi Lee & Jeongdo Lee & Changjun Lee & Seungmo Koo & Changwon Park & Sebin Kim & Takahide Kagawa & Bum-Jin Park, 2020. "Measures to Promote Rural Healthcare Tourism with a Scientific Evidence-Based Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:9:p:3266-:d:355062
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Dawou Joung & Geonwoo Kim & Yoonho Choi & HyoJin Lim & Soonjoo Park & Jong-Min Woo & Bum-Jin Park, 2015. "The Prefrontal Cortex Activity and Psychological Effects of Viewing Forest Landscapes in Autumn Season," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-9, June.
    4. 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.
    5. Mushtaq H. Khan, 2007. "Governance, Economic Growth and Development since the 1960s," Working Papers 54, United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs.
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    Cited by:

    1. Quan Qiu & Ling Yang & Mei He & Wen Gao & Harrison Mar & Jiyue Li & Guangyu Wang, 2022. "The Effects of Forest Therapy on the Blood Pressure and Salivary Cortisol Levels of Urban Residents: A Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-20, December.
    2. Xiaojuan Rao & Hongliang Qiu & Alastair M. Morrison & Wei Wei, 2022. "Linking Perceived Environmental CSR to Residents’ Environmental Citizenship Behavior in Rural Tourism: The Mediating Role of Resident–Environment Relationship Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Dawou Joung & Bum-Jin Park & Shinkwang Kang, 2022. "Quality of Life and Mental Health Benefits of Public Participation in Forest Conservation Activities in Urban Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Geonwoo Kim & Sujin Park & Dooahn Kwak, 2020. "Is It Possible to Predict the Concentration of Natural Volatile Organic Compounds in Forest Atmosphere?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, October.
    5. Jonah D’Angelo & Stephen D. Ritchie & Bruce Oddson & Dominique D. Gagnon & Tomasz Mrozewski & Jim Little & Sebastien Nault, 2023. "Using Heart Rate Variability Methods for Health-Related Outcomes in Outdoor Contexts: A Scoping Review of Empirical Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-19, January.

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