Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2017.23.3.300

A Systematic Review of Forest Therapy Programs for Elementary School Students  

Song, Min Kyung (College of Nursing, Seoul National University)
Bang, Kyung-Sook (College of Nursing.The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University)
Publication Information
Child Health Nursing Research / v.23, no.3, 2017 , pp. 300-311 More about this Journal
Abstract
Purpose: There are many forest and outdoor programs being offered but systematic reviews of effects are lacking. This study was done to identify content, format, and strategies of forest therapy programs for elementary school students. Methods: Literature search using keywords in English and Korean was performed using 6 electronic databases in December 2016. Search participants were elementary school students and interventions conducted in the forest. Seventeen forest therapy studies were selected for evaluation. Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized study was used for quality assessment. Results: All studies were quasi-experimental designs. Forest therapy programs included various activities in forests such as experience of five senses, meditation in the forest, walking in the forest, ecological play, observation of animals and insects. All studies used psychosocial health variables and forest healing programs had positive effects on sociality, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, stress, aggression, anger, and school adjustment. Limitations of these studies were vague reporting of the study, lack of ethical review and rigorous research designs. Conclusion: Forest therapy for elementary school child can be an effective way to improve psychosocial health. Future studies with rigorous study designs are needed to assess long-term effects of forest therapy on physical and psychosocial health.
Keywords
Forests; Child; Review literature;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 6  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Lee IS, Bang KS, Kim SJ, Choi HS, Hwang IJ, Kim JE. Analysis of community-based health promotion program targeting school-aged children and program using forest: Based on national community health plan. Korean Parent Child Health Journal. 2014;17(1):8-17.
2 Kim K, Kim JH, Lim KC, Lee KS, Jeong JS, Choe MA, et al. Quality assessment tools and reporting standards in nursing research. Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science. 2012;14(3):221-230. https://doi.org/10.7586/jkbns.2012.14.3.221   DOI
3 Florez H, Martinez R, Chacra W, Strickman-Stein N, Levis S. Outdoor exercise reduces the risk of hypovitaminosis D in the obese. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 2007;103(3-5):679-681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2006.12.032   DOI
4 McCurdy LE, Winterbottom KE, Mehta SS, Roberts JR. Using nature and outdoor activity to improve children's health. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care. 2010;40(5):102-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2010.02.003   DOI
5 Cho YM, Kim DJ, Lee KH, Lee HE, Lee YJ. A study on effect of forest related programs based on the meta-analysis. Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation. 2015;19(1):1-13.
6 Kim SJ, Park YA, Kim SH, Kim HY, Yoo Sy, Baek SS, et al. The degree of life-respect and peer bullying in elementary school students. Child Health Nursing Research. 2015;21(1):28-36. https://doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2015.21.1.28   DOI
7 Hong KJ. A study of exploration the play programs which support the children's development. Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare 1999;8:103-133.
8 Park JY, Ma HH, Lee YN, Oh H. Trends in intervention study for childhood obesity in Korea. Child Health Nursing Research. 2017;23 (1):81-90. https://doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2017.23.1.81   DOI
9 Kim MY. A study of stress, coping behaviors and health problems in school age children. Korean Journal of Child Health Nursing. 2005;11(1):83-89.
10 Son JW, Ha SY, Kim JJ. A study on the relationship between attitudes toward forest and aggression in young people. Jounal of Korean Forest Society. 2013;102(1):74-81. https://doi.org/10.14578/jkfs.2013.102.1.074   DOI
11 Kang JH, Koo BJ. The effect of watching TV and computer on physical activity and self-efficacy in children. Korean Society For the Study of Physical Education. 2010;15(1):201-212.
12 Kim HR. A strategy for child and adolescent health promotion: Nutrition, overweight and obesity. Health and Welfare Policy Forum. 2008;140:20-31.
13 Von Stumm S, Deary IJ, Kivimaki M, Jokela M, Clark H, Batty GD. Childhood behavior problems and health at midlife: 35-year followup of a Scottish birth cohort. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2011;52(9):992-1001. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2011.02373.x   DOI
14 Han KS, Im NY, Song KA, Hong YH, Kim JI, Kim KH, et al. The analysis of trends in complementary and alternative therapy (CAT) in nursing research in Korea. Journal of the Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing. 2003;10(3):392-398.
15 Yoo Y, Lee SM, Seo SC, Choung JT, Lee SJ, Park SJ, et al. The clinical and immunological effects of forest camp on childhood environmental diseases. Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation. 2011;15(2):85-93.
16 Lee IS, Bang KS, Kim SJ, Song MK, Kang KI. Status of health promotion programs utilizing forest - Based on the 2015-2016 regional healthcare plans in Korea. The Journal of Korean institute of Forest Recreation. 2016;20(4):39-52.
17 The National Law Information Center. Forestry culture and recreation act [Internet]. Sejong: Korea Ministry of Government Legislation; 2016 [cited 2017 March 20]. Available from: http://www.law.go.kr/main.html.
18 Park BJ, Tsunetsugu Y, Kasetani T, Kagawa T, Miyazaki Y. The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): Evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 2010;15(1):18-26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-009-0086-9   DOI
19 Li Q, Morimoto K, Kobayashi M, Inagaki H, Katsumata M, Hirata Y, et al. A forest bathing trip increases human natural killer activity and expression of anti-cancer proteins in female subjects. Journal of Biological Regulators & Homeostatic Agents. 2008;22(1):45-55.
20 Morita E, Fukuda S, Nagano J, Hamajima N, Yamamoto H, Iwai Y, et al. Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction. Public Health. 2007;121(1):54-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2006.05.024   DOI
21 Kim SA, Joung DW, Yeom DG, Kim GW, Park BJ. The effects of forest activities on attitudes toward forest, stress, self-esteem and mental health of children in community child centers. Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation. 2015;19(3):51-58.
22 Cho YM, Shin WS, Yeoun PS, Lee HE. The influence of forest experience program on children from low income families, sociality and depression. Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation. 2011;15(2):69-75.
23 Kim JY, Shin CS, Yeoun PS, Yi JY, Kim MR, Kim JK, et al. Forest healing program impact on the mental health recovery of elementary school students. Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation. 2013;17(4):69-81.
24 Lee IS, Bang KS, Kim SJ, Choi HS, Lee BH, Song MK. Effect of forest program on atopic dermatitis in children - A systematic review. Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation. 2016;20(2):1-13.
25 Kim S, Park J, Seo H, Lee Y, Jang B, Son H, et al. NECA's guidance for undertaking systematic reviews and meta-analyses for intervention. Seoul: National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agengy; 2011. p. 19-46.
26 Lee JW, Yoo RH, Kim KW, Jeong SA, Koo BH. Master plan for the healing forest area in San-Eum. Seoul: Korea Forest Research Institute; 2008. p. 153-159.
27 Kim SY. The tools of study design algorithm for medical literature of intervention and risk of bias for non randomized studies. Gangwon: Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service; 2013. p. 31-51.
28 Cho YM, Kim DJ, Yeoun PS, Kwon HK, Cho HS, Lee JM. The influence of a seasonal forest education program on psychological wellbeing and stress of adolescents. Journal of the Korean Institute of Forest Recreation. 2014;18(2):59-69.
29 Kim IO, Yeoun PS, Shin WS, Kim IJ. The influence of a forest experience program on elementary school student's anger. The Journal of Korean Institute of Forest Recreation. 2013;17(2):55-61.
30 Kwon YR. Effects of the forest healing program on the personality cultivation of elementary students [master's thesis]. Seoul: Sangmyung University; 2013. p. 1-105.