Forest Walks: A Natural Prescription for Mood Enhancement, Especially for Those with High Trait Anxiety
This study aimed to explore the psychological advantages of short forest walks and investigate their connection with individuals' trait anxiety levels. The research involved 585 participants with an average age of 21.7 years, who were instructed to take 15-minute walks in both forest and city settings. Psychological responses were evaluated using the Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire, and trait anxiety levels were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.
The findings demonstrated that walking through forested areas had a positive impact on participants' mood, reducing negative emotions such as depression, tension, anger, fatigue, and confusion, while enhancing feelings of vigor compared to walking in urban environments. Furthermore, a noteworthy correlation was observed between participants' trait anxiety levels and changes in the "depression-dejection" subscale of POMS after walking in forested areas. Particularly, individuals with higher trait anxiety levels experienced a more significant reduction in "depression-dejection" feelings after forest walks compared to those with normal or low trait anxiety levels. This study underscores the psychological benefits of forest walks and highlights the relationship between these benefits and individual trait anxiety levels.
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