표현적 글쓰기를 활용한 산림치유 프로그램이 중년여성의 우울과 신체화 증상에 미치는 효과

Effects of Forest Healing Program Including Expressive Writing on Depression and Somatization Symptoms in Middle-Aged Women

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a forest healing program incorporating expressive writing to enhance mental health among middle-aged women in the post-COVID-19 era and evaluate its effects on depression and somatization symptoms. Methods: The intervention consisted of a six-session program, modified from the forest healing program used by the Korea Forest Service, with expressive writing activities tailored to the target population. A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was employed. Participants included 24 women aged 40∼59 with middle or high school-aged children, divided into an experimental group (n=12) and a control group (n=12). The experimental group received the intervention, and self-reported surveys were conducted at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and four weeks post-intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 with χ²-tests, t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The results showed significant reductions in depression 2 (t=3.76, p=.003) and somatization symptoms (t=3.12, p=.010) in the experimental group compared to the control group immediately after the intervention. These effects persisted at four weeks post-intervention for both depression (t=3.68, p=.004) and somatization symptoms (t=2.72, p=.020). Conclusion: The findings suggest that this program is an effective nursing interven- tion for reducing depression and somatization symptoms in middle-aged women recovering from COVID-19 pandemic-related stress.