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Int J Environ Res Public Health

Title:		Short-Term Effects of Forest Therapy on Mood States: A Pilot Study
Author(s):		Meneguzzo F; Albanese L; Antonelli M; Baraldi R; Becheri FR; Centritto F; Donelli D; Finelli F; Firenzuoli F; Margheritini G; Maggini V; Nardini S; Regina M; Zabini F; Neri L;
Address:		"Institute of Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 10 Via Madonna del Piano, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy. Italian Alpine Club, 19 Via E. Petrella, I-20124 Milano, Italy. Local Public Health Authority, AUSL- IRCCS, I-42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy. Institute of Bioeconomy, National Research Council, 101 Via Gobetti, I-40129 Bologna, Italy. Pian dei Termini Forest Therapy Station, 2311 Via Pratorsi, I-51028 San Marcello Piteglio, Italy. 'Cesare Alfieri' Political Science School, University of Florence, 60 Via Vittorio Locchi, I-50141 Firenze, Italy. CERFIT, Careggi University Hospital, I-50134 Florence, Italy. A.M.I.S.I. Italian Medical Association for the Study of Hypnosis, 28 Via Paisiello, I-20131 Milano, Italy. Mindfulness Association UK, Edinburgh EH9 1AR, UK"
Journal Title:		Int J Environ Res Public Health
Year:		2021
Volume:		20210909
Issue:		18
Page Number:		-
DOI:		10.3390/ijerph18189509
ISSN/ISBN:		1660-4601 (Electronic) 1661-7827 (Print) 1660-4601 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Immersion in forest environments was shown to produce beneficial effects to human health, in particular psychophysical relaxation, leading to its growing recognition as a form of integrative medicine. However, limited evidence exists about the statistical significance of the effects and their association with external and environmental variables and personal characteristics. This experimental study aimed to substantiate the very concept of forest therapy by means of the analysis of the significance of its effects on the mood states of anxiety, depression, anger and confusion. Seven forest therapy sessions were performed in remote areas and a control one in an urban park, with participants allowed to attend only one session, resulting in 162 psychological self-assessment questionnaires administered before and after each session. Meteorological comfort, the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the forest atmosphere and environmental coherence were identified as likely important external and environmental variables. Under certain conditions, forest therapy sessions performed in remote sites were shown to outperform the control session, at least for anxiety, anger and confusion. A quantitative analysis of the association of the outcomes with personal sociodemographic characteristics revealed that only sporting habits and age were significantly associated with the outcomes for certain psychological domains"
Keywords:		*Anxiety Anxiety Disorders *Forests Humans Pilot Projects Relaxation anger anxiety confusion depression forest therapy mental health volatile organic compounds;
Notes:		"MedlineMeneguzzo, Francesco Albanese, Lorenzo Antonelli, Michele Baraldi, Rita Becheri, Francesco Riccardo Centritto, Francesco Donelli, Davide Finelli, Franco Firenzuoli, Fabio Margheritini, Giovanni Maggini, Valentina Nardini, Sara Regina, Marta Zabini, Federica Neri, Luisa eng Switzerland 2021/09/29 Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 9; 18(18):9509. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18189509"