J Prev Med Public Health.  2022 Sep;55(5):492-497. 10.3961/jpmph.22.086.

Effects of Forest Therapy on Psychological Improvement in Middle-aged Women in Korea

• Park BJ
• Shin WS
• Shin CS
• Yeon PS
• Chung CY
• Lee SH
• Kim DJ
• Kim YH
• Park CE

• KMID: 2534259
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.22.086

Abstract

Objectives
Women experience more stress in middle age than in other periods of their lives. Therefore, health management programs that enable middle-aged women to cope with and manage stress are needed. This study investigated the psychological effects of a meditation-focused forest therapy program among 53 middle-aged women living in urban areas in Korea.
Methods
Participants were divided into 2 groups: one group underwent the program for 3 days in a forest, followed by 3 days in an urban environment, and the other group underwent the program for 3 days in the urban environment, followed by 3 days in the forest. The psychological effects of the forest therapy program were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States-Brief (POMS-B). Differences in mood state before and after the program conducted in the forest (experimental group) and in the urban environment (control group) were evaluated using the paired-samples t-test.
Results
The program in the forest significantly reduced tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion among the domains of the POMS-B. The program in the urban area significantly reduced tension, but not depression, anger, fatigue, or confusion.
Conclusions
Meditation-focused forest therapy programs are expected to contribute to promoting psychological health and enhancing the quality of life of middle-aged women.

Keyword

Forest therapy; Middle-aged women; Stress; Mood state; Psychological improvement