Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction

Morita, E.; Fukuda, S.; Nagano, J.; Hamajima, N.; Yamamoto, H.; Iwai, Y.; Nakashima, T.; Ohira, H.; Shirakawa, T.

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2006.05.024

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Volume 121, Issue 1 , Pages 54-63, January 2007

Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction

E. Morita
- Department of Health Promotion and Human Behaviour, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +81757534641; fax: +81757534452.
S. Fukuda
- Department of Health Promotion and Human Behaviour, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501
J. Nagano
- Institute of Health Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
N. Hamajima
- Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
H. Yamamoto
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Y. Iwai
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
T. Nakashima
- Field Science Education and Research Centre, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
H. Ohira
- Nagoya University Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya, Japan
T. Shirakawa
- Department of Health Promotion and Human Behaviour, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501

Received 18 August 2005; received in revised form 18 April 2006; accepted 17 May 2006.

Abstract

Objectives

Shinrin-yoku (walking and/or staying in forests in order to promote health) is a major form of relaxation in Japan; however, its effects have yet to be completely clarified. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the psychological effects of shinrin-yoku in a large number of participants; and (2) to identify the factors related to these effects.

Methods

Four hundred and ninety-eight healthy volunteers took part in the study. Surveys were conducted twice in a forest on the same day (forest day) and twice on a control day. Outcome measures were evaluated using the Multiple Mood Scale-Short Form (hostility, depression, boredom, friendliness, wellbeing and liveliness) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory A-State Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted using analysis of variance and multiple regression analyses.

Results

Hostility (P<0.001) and depression (P<0.001) scores decreased significantly, and liveliness (P=0.001) scores increased significantly on the forest day compared with the control day. The main effect of environment was also observed with all outcomes except for hostility, and the forest environment was advantageous. Stress levels were shown to be related to the magnitude of the shinrin-yoku effect; the higher the stress level, the greater the effect.

Conclusions

This study revealed that forest environments are advantageous with respect to acute emotions, especially among those experiencing chronic stress. Accordingly, shinrin-yoku may be employed as a stress reduction method, and forest environments can be viewed as therapeutic landscapes. Therefore, customary shinrin-yoku may help to decrease the risk of psychosocial stress-related diseases, and evaluation of the long-term effects of shinrin-yoku is warranted.

Keywords: Therapeutic landscapes, Leisure activity, Psychosocial stress, Forest environment, Relaxation, Shinrin-yoku