IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v21y2024i3p350-d1357840.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Inverse Association between the Frequency of Forest Walking (Shinrin-yoku) and the Prevalence of Insomnia Symptoms in the General Japanese Population: A Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Daiko Study

Author

Listed:
  • Emi Morita

    (International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
    Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forest Research and Management Organization, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba 305-8687, Japan)

  • Hiroshi Kadotani

    (Department of Psychiatry, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan)

  • Naoto Yamada

    (Department of Psychiatry, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan
    Kanbayashi Memorial Hospital, 89-1 Orikuchinishi, Okucho, Ichinomiya 491-0201, Japan)

  • Tae Sasakabe

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-Cho, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
    Department of Public Health, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan)

  • Sayo Kawai

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-Cho, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan
    Department of Public Health, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan)

  • Mariko Naito

    (Department of Oral Epidemiology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan)

  • Takashi Tamura

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-Cho, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan)

  • Kenji Wakai

    (Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-Cho, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan)

Abstract

Since a single forest walk (Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing) session is reported to improve sleep temporarily, occasional forest walks may have a positive effect on daily sleep. Therefore, this study aimed to examine whether more frequent forest walking is associated with better daily sleep conditions. Data from the second survey of the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Daiko Study conducted among residents of Nagoya City, Japan, were used. The study design was a cross-sectional study. In total, 2044 participants (529 men and 1515 women; age, mean ± standard deviation: 58.8 ± 9.9 years) were included in the analysis. Frequent forest walks were associated with a low percentage of insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index ≥10) in women, but not in men. The adjusted odds ratio for the group that rarely took forest walks with reference to the group that engaged in the activity once a month or more often was 2.04 (95% confidence interval: 1.29–3.23) in women. Forest walk frequency was not significantly associated with sleep duration or sleep efficiency as measured by actigraphy in either men or women. In conclusion, the results suggested that increasing the frequency of forest walks or Shinrin-yoku may be effective in preventing insomnia in women.

Suggested Citation

  • Emi Morita & Hiroshi Kadotani & Naoto Yamada & Tae Sasakabe & Sayo Kawai & Mariko Naito & Takashi Tamura & Kenji Wakai, 2024. "The Inverse Association between the Frequency of Forest Walking (Shinrin-yoku) and the Prevalence of Insomnia Symptoms in the General Japanese Population: A Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Coh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:3:p:350-:d:1357840
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/3/350/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/3/350/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marita Stier-Jarmer & Veronika Throner & Michaela Kirschneck & Gisela Immich & Dieter Frisch & Angela Schuh, 2021. "The Psychological and Physical Effects of Forests on Human Health: A Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-39, February.
    2. Margaret M. Hansen & Reo Jones & Kirsten Tocchini, 2017. "Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) and Nature Therapy: A State-of-the-Art Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-48, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Christina Pichler & Johanna Freidl & Michael Bischof & Martin Kiem & Renate Weisböck-Erdheim & Daniela Huber & Gabriella Squarra & Paul Clemens Murschetz & Arnulf Hartl, 2022. "Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy: A Study Protocol of Novel Types of Nature-Based Intervention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Elena Bermejo-Martins & María Pueyo-Garrigues & María Casas & Raúl Bermejo-Orduna & Ana Villarroya, 2022. "A Forest Bathing Intervention in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: A Feasibility Study Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-12, October.
    3. Davide Donelli & Francesco Meneguzzo & Michele Antonelli & Diego Ardissino & Giampaolo Niccoli & Giorgio Gronchi & Rita Baraldi & Luisa Neri & Federica Zabini, 2023. "Effects of Plant-Emitted Monoterpenes on Anxiety Symptoms: A Propensity-Matched Observational Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    4. Daniela Huber & Johanna Freidl & Christina Pichler & Michael Bischof & Martin Kiem & Renate Weisböck-Erdheim & Gabriella Squarra & Vincenzo De Nigris & Stefan Resnyak & Marcel Neberich & Susanna Bordi, 2023. "Long-Term Effects of Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy on Physical and Mental Health of Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-20, January.
    5. Yunjeong Yi & Eunju Seo & Jiyeon An, 2022. "Does Forest Therapy Have Physio-Psychological Benefits? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-21, August.
    6. Ka-Yin Yau & Pui-Sze Law & Chung-Ngok Wong, 2022. "Cardiac and Mental Benefits of Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Diet plus Forest Bathing (FB) versus MIND Diet among Older Chinese Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-15, November.
    7. Takafumi Abe & Kenta Okuyama & Tsuyoshi Hamano & Miwako Takeda & Masayuki Yamasaki & Minoru Isomura & Kunihiko Nakano & Kristina Sundquist & Toru Nabika, 2021. "Assessing the Impact of a Hilly Environment on Depressive Symptoms among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-11, April.
    8. John Kavanaugh & Mark E. Hardison & Heidi Honegger Rogers & Crystal White & Jessica Gross, 2022. "Assessing the Impact of a Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) Intervention on Physician/Healthcare Professional Burnout: A Randomized, Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-11, November.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2018. "Physiological Effects of Visual Stimulation with Forest Imagery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-11, January.
    13. Seong-Hee Jo & Jin-Seok Park & Poung-Sik Yeon, 2021. "The Effect of Forest Video Using Virtual Reality on the Stress Reduction of University Students Focused on C University in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-11, December.
    14. Hyeonjin Song & Kevin James Lane & Honghyok Kim & Hyomi Kim & Garam Byun & Minh Le & Yongsoo Choi & Chan Ryul Park & Jong-Tae Lee, 2019. "Association between Urban Greenness and Depressive Symptoms: Evaluation of Greenness Using Various Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    15. Vito Imbrenda & Rosa Coluzzi & Francesca Mariani & Bogdana Nosova & Eva Cudlinova & Rosanna Salvia & Giovanni Quaranta & Luca Salvati & Maria Lanfredi, 2023. "Working in (Slow) Progress: Socio-Environmental and Economic Dynamics in the Forestry Sector and the Contribution to Sustainable Development in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, June.
    16. Ernest Bielinis & Jenni Simkin & Pasi Puttonen & Liisa Tyrväinen, 2020. "Effect of Viewing Video Representation of the Urban Environment and Forest Environment on Mood and Level of Procrastination," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-23, July.
    17. Dorothy Day Huntsman & Grzegorz Bulaj, 2022. "Healthy Dwelling: Design of Biophilic Interior Environments Fostering Self-Care Practices for People Living with Migraines, Chronic Pain, and Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-16, February.
    18. Sujin Park & Eunsoo Kim & Geonwoo Kim & Soojin Kim & Yeji Choi & Domyung Paek, 2022. "What Activities in Forests Are Beneficial for Human Health? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-29, February.
    19. Adriano Bressane & Rogério Galante Negri & Irineu de Brito Junior & Liliam César de Castro Medeiros & Isabela Lopes Lima Araújo & Mirela Beatriz Silva & Amanda Louisi dos Santos Galvão & Graziele Cora, 2022. "Association between Contact with Nature and Anxiety, Stress and Depression Symptoms: A Primary Survey in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-10, August.
    20. David Victorson & Gretchen Doninger & Scott Victorson & Gwen Victorson & Lars Hall & Carly Maletich & Bradley R. Corr & Kathy Scortino & Zachary Burns & Lori Allen & Ian Rosa & Kelley Quirk & Adekunle, 2021. "Psychosocial and Biological Outcomes of Immersive, Mindfulness-Based Treks in Nature for Groups of Young Adults and Caregivers Affected by Cancer: Results from a Single Arm Program Evaluation from 201," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-16, November.

    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:21:y:2024:i:3:p:350-:d:1357840. 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.