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Effect of Forest Users’ Stress on Perceived Restorativeness, Forest Recreation Motivation, and Mental Well-Being during COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Don-Gak Lee

    (Graduated Department of Forest Therapy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea)

  • Jin-Gun Kim

    (Korea Forest Therapy Forum Incorporated Association, Cheongju 28644, Korea)

  • Bum-Jin Park

    (Department of Environment & Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea)

  • Won Sop Shin

    (Department of Forest Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea)

Abstract

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has discouraged travel and people’s movements, the number of visitors to forests near cities which are easily accessible by private vehicle is increasing in Korea. This study aims to investigate the relationship between stress, perceived restorativeness, forest recreation motivation, and the mental well-being of forest users. A survey of forest users was conducted at three recreational forests near Seoul in the summer of 2020. A total of 1196 forest users (613 males and 583 females) participated in the study. As a result of the data analysis, it was found that stress had a negative correlation with perceived restorativeness, forest recreation motivation, and mental well-being; perceived restorativeness had a positive correlation with mental well-being, and forest recreation motivation had a positive correlation with mental well-being. For the relationship between stress and mental well-being, the fitness index that was mediated by the perceived restorativeness and the forest recreation motivation found that the model was statistically suitable. Through this study, a research model was derived that, if the stress of forest users is reduced, direct or indirect effects on perceived restorativeness, forest recreation motivation, and mental well-being are increased. Further, a multi-group analysis found that the effect of perceived restorativeness and forest recreation motivation on the mental well-being of the male group was higher than the effect on the female group. Using this research model to find ways to promote health in forests can be utilized for forest management or forest healing.

Suggested Citation

  • Don-Gak Lee & Jin-Gun Kim & Bum-Jin Park & Won Sop Shin, 2022. "Effect of Forest Users’ Stress on Perceived Restorativeness, Forest Recreation Motivation, and Mental Well-Being during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6675-:d:827931
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ledyard Tucker & Charles Lewis, 1973. "A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 38(1), pages 1-10, March.
    2. Jenni Simkin & Ann Ojala & Liisa Tyrväinen, 2021. "The Perceived Restorativeness of Differently Managed Forests and Its Association with Forest Qualities and Individual Variables: A Field Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-26, January.
    3. Lincoln R Larson & Viniece Jennings & Scott A Cloutier, 2016. "Public Parks and Wellbeing in Urban Areas of the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, April.
    4. Don-Gak Lee & Mi-Mi Lee & Young-Mi Jeong & Jin-Gun Kim & Yung-Kyoon Yoon & Won-Sop Shin, 2021. "Influence of Forest Visitors’ Perceived Restorativeness on Social–Psychological Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
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