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. 2014 Jul 15;11(7):7207-30.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph110707207.

Emotional, restorative and vitalizing effects of forest and urban environments at four sites in Japan

Norimasa Takayama  1 , Kalevi Korpela  2 , Juyoung Lee  3 , Takeshi Morikawa  4 , Yuko Tsunetsugu  5 , Bum-Jin Park  6 , Qing Li  7 , Liisa Tyrväinen  8 , Yoshifumi Miyazaki  9 , Takahide Kagawa  10
Affiliations

Emotional, restorative and vitalizing effects of forest and urban environments at four sites in Japan

Norimasa Takayama et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The present study investigated the well-being effects of short-term forest walking and viewing ("forest bathing"). The hypothesis in our study was that both environment (forest vs. urban) and activity (walking and viewing) would influence psychological outcomes. An additional aim was to enhance basic research using several psychological methods. We conducted the experiments using 45 respondents in four areas of Japan from August to September, 2011. The hypothesis in our study was supported, because significant interaction terms between the environment and activity were confirmed regarding the Profile of Mood States (POMS) indexes, Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS) and Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS). No statistical differences between the two experimental groups in any of the ten scales were found before the experiment. However, feelings of vigor and positive effects, as well as feelings of subjective recovery and vitality were stronger in the forest environment than in the urban environment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Details of each research district.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Photo showing the forest and urban site used for the Walking and Viewing sessions.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The result of POMS (before experiment).
Figure 4
Figure 4
The result of POMS (after viewing).
Figure 5
Figure 5
The result of PANAS (before experiment).
Figure 6
Figure 6
The result of PANAS (after viewing).
Figure 7
Figure 7
The result of ROS (forest-control).
Figure 8
Figure 8
The result of SVS (forest-control).
Figure 9
Figure 9
The result of POMS (forest).
Figure 10
Figure 10
The result of POMS (control).
Figure 11
Figure 11
The result of PANAS (forest).
Figure 12
Figure 12
The result of PANAS (control).
Figure 13
Figure 13
The result of ROS (forest and control).
Figure 14
Figure 14
The result of SVS (forest and control).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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