Abstract

This experimental study investigated differences in perceived restorativeness, mood, attention capacity and physiological reactions when visiting city and forest environments. Twenty female patients diagnosed with exhaustion disorder visited three different forest environments and one city environment in randomized order. They performed a standardized 90-min test procedure in each of these environments. Evaluation of the environments and psychological effects in mood were studied with self-administered questionnaires. Attention capacity was studied with Necker Cube Pattern Control task. Physiological responses were measured with regularly scheduled controls of heart rate and blood pressure, and a single test of heart rate recovery. Visits to the forest environments were perceived as significantly more restorative, enhancing mood and attention capacity compared to the city. This also applies to the results of heart rate and to some extent to the results of the diastolic blood pressure. The results from this experimental study support our hypothesis that short visits to forest environments enhance both psychological and physiological recovery and that visits to forest environments are likely to be beneficial when suffering from exhaustion disorder.

Keywords

Burnout; City; Human health; Nature; Psychophysiology; Recovery

Published in

Urban Forestry and Urban Greening
2014, Volume: 13, number: 2, pages: 344-354
Publisher: ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG

SLU Authors

• Lundell, Ylva

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Dolling, Ann

  • Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Forest Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2013.12.007

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/66835