Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science (한국산림과학회지)

Korean Society of Forest Science (한국산림과학회)
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The Effects of School Forests on Mental Health and Cognition of Elementary Students

초등학교 내 학교숲 조성이 아동의 인지·정신건강에 미치는 효과

  • Choi, Seon Hye (Department of Forest Welfare, National Institute of Forest Science) ;
  • Lee, Yeonhee (Department of Forest Welfare, National Institute of Forest Science) ;
  • Lee, Yoon Joo (Department of Forest Welfare, National Institute of Forest Science)
  • 최선혜 (국립산림과학원 산림복지연구과) ;
  • 이연희 (국립산림과학원 산림복지연구과) ;
  • 이윤주 (국립산림과학원 산림복지연구과)
  • Received : 2019.09.24
  • Accepted : 2019.11.12
  • Published : 2019.12.31
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of school forests on the cognition and mental health of elementary school students. Data were obtained through the surveys of sixth graders in an elementary school in Seoul that took part in the School Forest Project run by Korea Post, the Korea Forest Welfare Institute, and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. Students were surveyed before and after the creation of green spaces in their schools, and changes in their environmental sensitivity, attitude toward forests, depression, anxiety, and aggression were analyzed. The findings indicated that the creation of green spaces showed significant effects on the students in terms of encouraging them to strengthen their environmental sensitivity, helping them develop more positive attitudes toward forests, and reducing anxiety and physical aggression, which are the subfactors of aggressive behavior. In other words, creating school forests had positive effects on cognition and mental health, reduced bad behavior, and improved attitudes toward nature in children. The findings of this study are significant in that they reinforce the requirement of school forests by indicating the positive effects of school forests on children's cognition and mental health.

본 연구는 학교숲 조성이 초등학교 학생들의 인지·정신건강에 미치는 영향을 알아봄으로써 학교숲의 긍정적 효과를 확인하고자 한다. 우정사업본부와 한국산림복지진흥원, 서울시 교육청이 협력으로 학교숲 조성사업이 실시된 서울 A초등학교 6학년을 대상으로 설문조사를 수행하였다. 학교 숲이 조성되기 전과 후로 나누어 조사하였고, 환경 감수성, 숲에 대한 태도, 우울과 불안, 공격성의 변화를 분석하였다. 조사 및 분석 결과 학교숲의 조성이 환경 감수성과 숲에 대한 태도를 향상시키고, 공격성 하위요인인 신체적 공격성과 불안을 감소시키는데 유의미한 영향을 끼치는 것으로 알려졌다. 즉, 학교숲 조성이 아동의 환경 감수성을 높이고, 숲에 대한 태도를 긍정적으로 변화시키며, 신체적 공격성과 불안을 줄여줌으로 인지·정신건강에 긍정적인 효과를 미친다. 이에 따라 학교숲 조성이 아동들의 문제행동 감소와 자연에 대한 인식과 태도를 증진시키는데 기여할 수 있다고 본다. 본 연구는 학교숲 조성이 아동의 인지와 정신건강에 긍정적인 영향을 끼친다는 결과로 학교숲 조성의 필요성을 고취하고, 학교숲이 인지·정신건강에 미치는 효과를 밝히는 데 의의가 있다고 본다.

Keywords

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