Physiological and psychological effects of walking on young males in urban parks in winter

Journal of Physiological Anthropology

Yoshifumi Miyazaki²  Michiko Takagaki²  Masayuki Miwa²  Bum-Jin Park¹  Mariko Aga²  Miho Igarashi²  Harumi Ikei²  Dawou Joung¹  Chorong Song² 

[1] Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea;Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan

关键词: State-trait anxiety inventory;    Profile of mood states;    Semantic differential method;    Heart rate variability;    Heart rate;    Physiological relaxation;    Stress;    Winter;    Walking;    Urban green space;   

Others  :  861591
DOI  :  10.1186/1880-6805-32-18

 received in 2013-04-03, accepted in 2013-10-17,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Interaction with nature has a relaxing effect on humans. Increasing attention has been focused on the therapeutic effects of urban green space; however, there is a lack of evidence-based field research. This study provided scientific evidence supporting the physiological and psychological effects of walking on young males in urban parks in winter.

Findings

Subjects (13 males aged 22.5 ± 3.1 years) were instructed to walk predetermined 15-minute courses in an urban park (test) and in the city area (control). Heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured to assess physiological responses. The semantic differential (SD) method, Profile of Mood States (POMS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used to determine psychological responses.

Heart rate was significantly lower and the natural logarithm of the high frequency component of HRV was significantly higher when walking through the urban park than through the city area. The results of three questionnaires indicated that walking in the urban park improved mood and decreased negative feelings and anxiety.

Conclusions

Physiological and psychological data from this field experiment provide important scientific evidence regarding the health benefits of walking in an urban park. The results support the premise that walking in an urban park has relaxing effects even in winter.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Song et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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