• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.4
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• pp.651-666
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• 2022

The study aim was to analyze research trends related to the effect of a forest healing program on humans. We analyzed 120 articles by focusing on "Journal information," "Characteristics of study participants," "Program characteristics," "Experimental design," and "Measurement indices." The numbers of papers published in the fields of agriculture and maritime were highest, and the numbers have increased since 1996 when the first paper was published. Many papers have targeted both sex (males and females), middle age, and healthy people. The programs were mainly conducted for multiple times in a forest welfare facility, and exercise therapy, psychotherapy, and plant therapy were primarily administered. Most studies compared experimental and control groups with < 30 participants, and mainly used self-reported surveys. The present study results are expected to be used as basic data for the development of forest healing programs and to expand related research in the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.658-666
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to verify the effects of yoga and meditation-focused forest healing programs on profiles of mood states and stress reactions of adults. We tested 17 adults who agreed to participate in the experiments that were conducted for 2 nights and 3 days between September 8 to 10, 2017 in the healing forest located at Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do. The test used the simplified version of the inventory for the profile of mood states (K-POMS-B: Korean version of Profile of Mood States-Brief) and the stress response inventory as the measuring tools. For data analysis, we examined the differences in the profile of mood states and stress response of subjects before and after participation in the program through the paired T-tests with the SPSS 24.0 program. The analysis of the impact of the yoga and meditation-focused forest healing program on the profile of mood states of the test subjects showed the statistically significant reduction of the total score of the profile of mood states. Although the vigor among sub-level inventories increased, it was not statistically significant. But the tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion showed a statistically significant reduction. The analysis of the impact of the yoga and meditation-focused forest healing program on the stress response of the test subjects showed a statistically significant reduction. Among sub-level inventories, the tension, somatization, anger, depression, fatigue, and frustration showed a statistically significant reduction, but the aggressiveness did not. It is expected that the results of this study can be utilized in the future as reference data for clarifying the effects of yoga and meditation-focused forest healing programs.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.277-286
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate main psychological phenomena and healing process through qualitative analysis on the 115 handwriting healing experience in the forest. Main psychological phenomena experienced in the forest were important in order happiness, comfort, and understanding. The process of healing in the forest was first characterized by emotional changes, and was led to cognitive changes and behavioral changes. Healing stage of the forest has followed with six steps of stimulus, accommodating, purification, insight, filling, and change. This process was associated with nature sympathetic, rapport with oneself, and with the world. Previous studies, which were focused on the measurement of transient state after the comparative study between control and experimental groups, could not verify the continuity and process of psychological healing. this study suggests a new approach to understand the subjective psychological phenomena and healing processes in the forest, and will be a basis for developing and performing of forest healing program.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.118-129
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to offer the preliminary data for the development of forest therapy program. This exploratory study is about the development of forest healing program by identifying what is the forest healing program preferences of potential consumers and would be an important basis for the operation. The survey of interests and needs of 620 people on the forest therapy was analyzed. Using SPSS 21.0 program, statistical analysis, frequency analysis, T-test, One-way ANOVA, we looked at the differences in forest healing program preferences according to gender, age, occupation. Forest therapy program preference was found to vary depending on sex, age and job. First, according to gender, men preferred athletic in the forest and camping compared to women, and women showed a higher preference than men in the overall program. Second, depending on age, as compared to other age, for 20s; stress assessment & diagnosis, cooking in the forest, photo therapy in the forest, for 30s; walking in the forest, counseling, listening to lectures(stress-related or interpersonal relationships-related), communication-related lectures and vision quest, for 40s; meditation, viewing the forest, forest bathing wind bathing sun bathing, walking on barefoot in the forest, for 50s; breathing breathing exercises, yoga, mountaineering, climbing in silence, eating wild food, respectively, each of those programs were especially favored. Third, the forest healing program preference in accordance with the job is as follows. For students; stress assessment & diagnosis, cooking in the forest, etc., for teachers; walking in the forest, mountaineering, reading in the forest, viewing the forest, forest bathing wind bathing sun bathing, camping etc., for housewives; yoga, listening to the sound of water flowing, drinking herbal tea, eating wild food, for specialist researcher; breathing breathing exercises, climbing in silence, meditation, sleeping in the forest, respectively, each of those programs were especially favored. We expect the results of this study to be utilized as basic data for the development of forest therapy program targeting on adults.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.597-606
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• 2014

The preference of general adult on the forest and forest road was surveyed and analyzed for the development of forest therapy program. This study was conducted for the purpose of providing a basis for the development of more targeted-and differentiated-forest therapy program by analyzing the preference of general adult on the forest and forest road from 19 April 2014 to 30 June 2014 through on-line survey. The sample group of 613 adults has been used in practical analysis. Using SPSS 21.0, We looked at the preference differences of the forest and forest road according to the demographic characteristics(sex, age, education level, occupation and monthly income) through descriptive statistics analysis, frequency analysis, cross tabulation analysis, multiple response analysis. The seasonal preference was spring, autumn, any season, summer, winter in order and there was a significant difference according to one's sex, age, occupation and monthly income. There was a significant difference in the configuration of forest according to one's monthly income. The favorite type of forest as a place of forest healing program was natural recreational forest, healing forest, urban forest, park, school forest in order. There was no significant difference in the favorite forest type regarding to the distance to the healing place from one's residence in all cases. There was a significant difference in the type of forest according to one's monthly income. The most favorite configuration of forest road was gentle sloped road. Once walking into the forest for the purpose of healing, the favorite forest road length was 1.5~3 km, less then 1.5 km, more than 3 km in order and there was a significant difference in preference according to one's sex, age, education level and monthly income. We believe that the healing program should be differentiated from the general form of it according to one's sex, age, education level, occupation and monthly income as a result of this investigation of preference of general adult on the forest and forest road for the development of forest therapy program. In particular, we believe that the differentiated program should be offered according to one's age. We expect this analysis to be used as a basis for the development of forest therapy program.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.107-117
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• 2021

Background and objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a forest healing program in terms of depression, neuropsychological and physiological benefits for the elderly. Methods: For this purpose, we developed a forest therapy program for the elderly who are vulnerable to dementia and conducted a total of 11 sessions of forest therapy activities in a forest once a week. We measured the changes in depression, resting-state Electroencephalography(EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV) before and after the program. There were 60 subjects aged over 65 yesrs old. 30 subjects participated in the forest therapy program, and the other were in the control group. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to measure the level of depression, neuroNicle FX2 (Laxtha, Korea) was used to measure the resting-state EEG, and photoplethymogram (ubpulse T1, Laxtha, Korea) was used to measure the HRV. Results: The results showed that the depression index of the experimental group improved with statistical significance after the program (experiment group = 3.267 decrease of the mean). In the EEG measurement, the alpha-peak frequency at rest (experimental group = 0.227 Hz increase of the mean) was improved (mean increase = 0.23 in the experimental group, p < .05). The high frequency of HRV, which represents the parasympathetic nerve activity of the body's autonomous response, was also significantly improved (mean increase = 0.396 in the experimental group, p < .05). Conclusion: The results suggest that the forest therapy program can reduce the cognitive, psychological and physical risk factors of dementia for the elderly at risk of cognitive decline. Therefore, forest therapy activities may be suitable for the prevention of dementia in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2021

PURPOSE: Aging causes a decrease in muscle mass and a change in posture, which reduces motor function and makes it difficult to perform daily activities independently. As these factors are closely related to the deterioration of the quality of life, it is very important to prevent and manage negative changes in the musculoskeletal system. Forest healing is a nature therapy course that maintains and promotes health using various environmental factors in a forest. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of the forest healing anti-aging programs on the physical health of the elderly. METHODS: Ten elderly people participated in this study, as part of a forest healing anti-aging program for two days. Functional fitness, muscle strength, gait function, and balance were evaluated before and after the program. RESULTS: The number of arm curls, chair stands, and steps in a 2-min walk significantly increased (p < .05). 8-feet up & go time was significantly decreased (p < .05). Biceps brachii, quadriceps femoris, and calf muscle strength were significantly increased (p < .05). Gait velocity and cadence were significantly increased (p < .05). Step length, stride length, step time, swing time, stance time, and cycle time were significantly decreased (p < .05). Reaching distance in the lateral directions was significantly increased (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The forest healing anti-aging program improves the physical health of the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.1035-1045
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to provide information on a forest healing environment using the analysis of nature volatile organic compounds (NVOCs) and thermal comfort in Chungnam National University Experimental Forest, with the aim of using the Experimental Forest as a healing environment for health promotion. We analyzed NVOCs and thermal comfort of Chungnam National University Experimental Forest measured on September 12^th, 2021. As a result of the NVOC analysis, a total of seven substances were detected, mainly including alpha pinene and beta pinene. The detection amount for each time period was highest at the time of sunset. The thermal comfort was analyzed by time-dependent changes and changes according to clothing and exercise amount. The results showed that the predicted mean vote of the experimental forest is within the range of 'slightly cool' and 'slightly warm' sensation, and thus a comfortable thermal environment could be controlled by the amount of clothing and activity. Based on the analysis, this study provides information on the healing environment of the experimental forest at Chungnam National University. It also indicates that the forest can be used as a health promotion and healing environment with thermal comfort by composing a physical activity program of appropriate intensity for each time period.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.667-675
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• 2018

This study was conducted to reveal the effects of forest healing programs on recovery resilience and happiness of university employees. Fourteen people who agreed on experiments were selected as the study subject, with seven people classified the experimental group and seven people into the controlled group. The subjects in the experimental group participated in the forest healing program consisting of four 60-minute long weekly sessions from October 27 to November 17, 2015 in a forest managed by University C located in Cheongju-si of Chungcheongbuk-do. For data analysis, we examined the differences in recovery resilience and happiness before and after participation in the programs through the paired t-test using the SPSS 21.0 program, and the analysis results confirmed that the forest healing program helped to increase the recovery resilience and happiness of the university employees. Although there was no statistically significant change of the controlled group, the recovery resilience and happiness of the experimental group showed a statistically significant increase. The results of this study are expected to be utilized as reference data for clarifying the effects of forest healing programs for university employees.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.43-51
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• 2015

Stresses from desolate urban environments cause illnesses and worsen health conditions of urban residents, while natural environments have a positive influence on human. Natural healing programs such as forest therapy and horticultural therapy can be differentiated by the characteristic of activity space. However, previous studies of healing programs have focused on either forest therapy or horticulture therapy and there is a limit to comprehending the effects of adopting and connecting various healing programs. This study compares and analyzes the physiological and psychological effects of forest therapy and horticultural therapy to identify the effects and differences by types of healing programs. The before and after effects of horticultural therapy and forest therapy are measured by experiment and survey for 5 days with 5 subjects in each program. For physiological reaction, blood pressure, pulse, and cortisol levels are measured and the profile of moods states(POMS) is used to measure psychological reaction. Collected data are analyzed with the analysis of variance(ANOVA) and Paired-Sample T-test in SPSS 18.0. The results of this study are as follows: 1) forest therapy and horticultural therapy show positive effects in physiological and physiological aspects, 2) forest therapy is more effective than horticultural therapy in physiological relaxation and stress mitigation, 3) horticultural therapy has a tendency to alleviate depression more effectively than forest therapy. In conclusion, this study contributes to providing fundamental information for the development of healing programs and design guidelines for healing spaces through identifying the characteristics of each healing program.