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Effect of Green Plants on Individuals’ Mental Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study

Author

Listed:
  • Tao Liu

    (School of Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
    School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
    School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China)

  • Lin He

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
    School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China)

  • Wenhuan Yu

    (School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China)

  • Thomas Freudenreich

    (School of Management, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
    Institute for International Marketing Management, Vienna University of Economics and Business, 1020 Vienna, Austria)

  • Xianhao Lin

    (School of Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only jeopardized people’s physical health, but also put additional strain on their mental health. This study explored the role of indoor natural elements (i.e., green plants) in relieving individuals’ mental stress during a prolonged stressful period. A pilot and three formal studies examined the effect of indoor green plants placed in living and working environments on people’s perceived stress during the pandemic and further uncovered its underlying mechanism emphasizing a mediating role of emotion. The pilot study confirmed that the severity of the pandemic positively correlated with individuals’ level of stress. Study 1 then demonstrated that indoor green plants in people’s living environments might reduce their perceived stress during the pandemic, which is referred to as the “plant effect”. Study 2 repeated the plant effect in a field experiment conducted in a working environment and Study 3 revealed a mediating role of positive emotion. This study provides preliminary evidence for the mitigating effect of indoor green plants on individuals’ mental stress during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The indoor green plants placed in living and working environments may elicit positive emotion, which in turn reduce people’s mental stress. In addition, our results reveal that growth status of the indoor green plants affected the plant effect as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Tao Liu & Lin He & Wenhuan Yu & Thomas Freudenreich & Xianhao Lin, 2022. "Effect of Green Plants on Individuals’ Mental Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Preliminary Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13541-:d:947194
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Justė Lukoševičiūtė & Kastytis Šmigelskas, 2022. "Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Perceptions among Lithuanian Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-15, June.
    4. Katie Hayes & Blake Poland, 2018. "Addressing Mental Health in a Changing Climate: Incorporating Mental Health Indicators into Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-19, August.
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