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A Pragmatic Controlled Trial of Forest Bathing Compared with Compassionate Mind Training in the UK: Impacts on Self-Reported Wellbeing and Heart Rate Variability

Author

Listed:
  • Kirsten McEwan

    (College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • David Giles

    (Lattice Coaching and Training, Chesterfield S41 9AT, UK)

  • Fiona J. Clarke

    (School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK)

  • Yasu Kotera

    (Human Sciences Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Gary Evans

    (The Forest Bathing Institute, London WC2H 9JQ, UK)

  • Olga Terebenina

    (The Forest Bathing Institute, London WC2H 9JQ, UK)

  • Lina Minou

    (College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Claire Teeling

    (Grow Outside CIC, Cambridge CB22 3GN, UK)

  • Jaskaran Basran

    (College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Wendy Wood

    (College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK)

  • Dominic Weil

    (Dominic Weil, Sheffield, S2 5AS, UK)

Abstract

Forest Bathing, where individuals use mindfulness to engage with nature, has been reported to increase heart rate variability and benefit wellbeing. To date, most Forest Bathing studies have been conducted in Asia. Accordingly, this paper reports the first pragmatic controlled trial of Forest Bathing in the United Kingdom, comparing Forest Bathing with a control comprising an established wellbeing intervention also known to increase heart rate variability called Compassionate Mind Training. Sixty-one university staff and students (50 females, 11 males) were allocated to (i) Forest Bathing, (ii) Compassionate Mind Training or (iii) Forest Bathing combined with Compassionate Mind Training. Wellbeing and heart rate variability were measured at baseline, post-intervention and three-months follow-up. There were improvements in positive emotions, mood disturbance, rumination, nature connection and compassion and 57% of participants showed an increase in heart rate variability. There were no significant differences between conditions, showing that Forest Bathing had equivalence with an established wellbeing intervention. The findings will help healthcare providers and policy makers to understand the effects of Forest Bathing and implement it as a feasible social prescription to improve wellbeing. Future research needs to involve clinical populations and to assess the effects of Forest Bathing in a fully powered randomised controlled trial.

Suggested Citation

  • Kirsten McEwan & David Giles & Fiona J. Clarke & Yasu Kotera & Gary Evans & Olga Terebenina & Lina Minou & Claire Teeling & Jaskaran Basran & Wendy Wood & Dominic Weil, 2021. "A Pragmatic Controlled Trial of Forest Bathing Compared with Compassionate Mind Training in the UK: Impacts on Self-Reported Wellbeing and Heart Rate Variability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1380-:d:488881
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Florian Lederbogen & Peter Kirsch & Leila Haddad & Fabian Streit & Heike Tost & Philipp Schuch & Stefan Wüst & Jens C. Pruessner & Marcella Rietschel & Michael Deuschle & Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, 2011. "City living and urban upbringing affect neural social stress processing in humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7352), pages 498-501, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Amber L. Vermeesch & Alessandra Coro & Kira Mattes & Dylan Ostendorff & Erica Timko Olson & Layla Garrigues, 2022. "Nature-Based Feasibility Intervention to Influence Mitigation Strategies for Perceived Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-11, September.
    3. David Sheffield & Carly W. Butler & Miles Richardson, 2022. "Improving Nature Connectedness in Adults: A Meta-Analysis, Review and Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, September.
    4. Ping Liu & Mengnan Liu & Tingting Xia & Yutao Wang & Hongxu Wei, 2021. "Can Urban Forest Settings Evoke Positive Emotion? Evidence on Facial Expressions and Detection of Driving Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    5. Megan Rowley & Raluca Topciu & Matthew Owens, 2022. "A Systematic Review of Mechanisms Underpinning Psychological Change Following Nature Exposure in an Adolescent Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-22, October.
    6. Matthew Owens & Hannah L. I. Bunce, 2022. "Nature-Based Meditation, Rumination and Mental Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-19, July.
    7. Yasuhiro Kotera & Melinda Lyons & Katia Correa Vione & Briony Norton, 2021. "Effect of Nature Walks on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Eleanor M. Taylor & Noelle Robertson & Courtney J. Lightfoot & Alice C. Smith & Ceri R. Jones, 2022. "Nature-Based Interventions for Psychological Wellbeing in Long-Term Conditions: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-23, March.
    9. Fiona J. Clarke & Yasuhiro Kotera & Kirsten McEwan, 2021. "A Qualitative Study Comparing Mindfulness and Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing): Practitioners’ Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.

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