Physiological relaxation induced by horticultural activity: transplanting work using flowering plants

Journal of Physiological Anthropology

Yoshifumi Miyazaki⁵  Kyung-ok Oh³  Jun-woo Lee²  Ja-hyeong Ku¹  Kun-tae Park⁵  Juyoung Lee⁴  Bum-jin Park²  Min-sun Lee⁵ 

[1] Department of Horticulture, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea;Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea;Department of Nursing, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea;Korea Forest Service, Government Complex 1, Daejeon, Korea;Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa, Japan

关键词: Personality difference;    Autonomic nervous activity;    Heart rate variability;    Therapeutic effects;    Horticultural activity;   

Others  :  861628
DOI  :  10.1186/1880-6805-32-15

 received in 2012-06-13, accepted in 2013-09-24,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Despite increasing attention and a growing volume of research data, little physiological evidence is available on the benefits of horticultural activity and the different effects on individuals. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the physiological effects of horticultural activity and to examine how differences in personality alter these effects.

Results

The effects of transplanting real flowers (horticultural activity) and handling artificial flowers (control activity) on human physiological activity were compared. On the first day, eight participants engaged in horticultural activity and another eight in the control activity. On the second day, participants switched roles. Participants’ physiological conditions during each activity were assessed by measuring the heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). Psychological responses, which were measured using a semantic differential rating scale, showed that the horticultural activity promoted comfortable, soothed, and natural feelings, compared to the control activity. Analysis of physiological responses using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that sympathetic nervous activity significantly decreased in the late time period (11 to 15 minutes) of horticultural activity only in the type A group.

Conclusions

This study supports the fact that the horticultural activity can enhance psychological and physiological relaxation effects, although these physiological effects can differ among individuals with different personalities.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Lee et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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