장성 치유의 숲에서 경관감상이 인체의 생리적, 심리적 안정에 미치는 효과

Physiological and Psychological Relaxing Effects of Viewing the Scenery in the Jangseong Healing Forest

This study evaluates the physiological and psychological relaxing effects of viewing the scenery in the Jangseong healing forest. Twenty-two university students (20.9 ± 1.3 years old) participated in the study. An experiment was conducted in the Jangseong healing forest, and a control experiment was performed in the city. The physiological indicators used in the study were the heart rate variability and heart rate of the participants. Subjective assessments (SD method, POMS, and STAI) were used as psychological indicators. The participants sat on a chair watching the scenery in the forest area and the urban area for 10 minutes each. The results indicate that viewing the scenery in the forest can increase parasympathetic nerve activity as compared with that in the city. In addition, the forest environment can enhance “comfortable,” “natural,” and “soothed” feelings; alleviate negative emotions; and reduce anxiety. The results clearly indicate that viewing the scenery in the Jangseong healing forest induced physiological and psychological relaxation.