*연구과제명: Effects of Forest Therapy on Psychological Improvement in Middle-aged Women in Korea (산림치유가 중년 여성의 심리적 개선에 미치는 영향)
-연구 기관: Department of Forest Environment Resources, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea; Department of Forest Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea; Institute of Mental Health, Seoul, Korea; Healience Seonmaeul, Hongcheon, Korea; Center for Contemplative Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea; National Center for Forest Therapy, Gimcheon, Korea
-저자: Youn-Hee Kim , Chang-Eun Park
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 for- est. The psychological effects of the forest therapy program were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States-Brief (POMS-B). Differ- ences in mood state before and after the program conducted in the forest (experimental group) and in the urban environment (con- trol 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 enhanc- ing the quality of life of middle-aged women.
Key words: Forest therapy, Middle-aged women, Stress, Mood state, Psychological improvement
*연구과제명: Effects of Forest Therapy on Psychological Improvement in Middle-aged Women in Korea (산림치유가 중년 여성의 심리적 개선에 미치는 영향)
-연구 기관: Department of Forest Environment Resources, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea; Department of Forest Science, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea; Institute of Mental Health, Seoul, Korea; Healience Seonmaeul, Hongcheon, Korea; Center for Contemplative Science, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea; National Center for Forest Therapy, Gimcheon, Korea
-저자: Youn-Hee Kim , Chang-Eun Park
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 for- est. The psychological effects of the forest therapy program were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States-Brief (POMS-B). Differ- ences in mood state before and after the program conducted in the forest (experimental group) and in the urban environment (con- trol 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 enhanc- ing the quality of life of middle-aged women.
Key words: Forest therapy, Middle-aged women, Stress, Mood state, Psychological improvement