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

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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.
Publisher
Korean Society for Preventive Medicine
Issue Date
2022-09
Language
English
Article Type
Article
Citation

Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, v.55, no.5, pp.492 - 497

ISSN
1975-8375
DOI
10.3961/jpmph.22.086
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10203/303667
Appears in Collection
RIMS Journal Papers
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