Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture (한국조경학회지)

The Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture (한국조경학회)
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Evidence-based Field Research on Health Benefits of Urban Green Area

과학적 근거를 바탕으로 한 도시녹지의 건강편익에 관한 연구

  • Lee, Ju-Young (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University) ;
  • Park, Kuen-Tae (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University) ;
  • Lee, Min-Sun (Dept. of Horticulture, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Park, Bum-Jin (Dept. of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Ku, Ja-Hyeong (Dept. of Horticulture, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Lee, Joon-Woo (Dept. of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Oh, Kyong-Ok (Dept. of Nursing, Chungnam National University) ;
  • An, Ki-Wan (Division of Forestry Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam University) ;
  • Miyazaki, Yoshifumi (Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University)
  • Received : 2011.07.14
  • Accepted : 2011.09.28
  • Published : 2011.10.31
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Abstract

With increasing interest in health promotion and quality of life, growing attention has been focused on the beneficial effects of urban green area. However, very few evidence-based approaches have been conducted on the health-related benefits of urban greenery. Therefore, this study examined the health-related benefits of green areas using physiological and psychological indices to obtain evidence-based data on these benefits. Twenty male university students were selected as subjects. Data were collected when participants viewed landscapes in a green area or an urban area for fifteen minutes. This research was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of School of Medicine, Chungnam National University. Physiological data in the green area revealed significantly decreased heart rates, significantly increased high-frequency value of heart rate variability, an index of parasympathetic activity, and reduced salivary cortisol concentration, a stress hormone, compared to the urban area. Psychological tests showed the green area significantly reduced the negative mood state and psychological symptoms, and significantly increased the positive mood state. Our data provided evidence for the health-related benefits of green areas, and the findings of this study support that green areas can play a critical role in health promotion for urban residents, by positively affecting autonomic nervous and endocrinal activities.

건강과 삶의 질 향상에 대한 관심이 커짐에 따라 도시녹지가 가져다 주는 건강편익이 크게 주목되고 있지만, 이에 관한 객관적이고 과학적인 데이터는 매우 부족한 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 도시녹지가 가져다 주는 건강편익에 대한 과학적 자료를 얻기 위해 생리적, 심리적 지표를 활용하여 실험을 실시하였다. 과거병력이 없는 20대 남자 대학생 20명이 실험에 참가하였고, 자극은 녹지와 도시에서 실제의 경관을 15분간 감상하는 것으로 하였다. 이번 연구는 충남대학교 의학전문대학원 생명윤리심사위원회의 승인을 받은 후 실시되었다. 녹지와 도시에 대한 생리반응을 분석한 결과, 도시에 비해 녹지에서 심박동수가 현저히 감소하였고, 안정상태에서 증가하는 부교감신경활동이 유의하게 향상되었으며, 스트레스호르몬의 일종인 코티솔 농도가 낮아지는 경향이 보였다. 심리반응에 있어서는 부정적인 감정과 정신상태가 녹지에서 보다 유의하게 낮아진 반면, 활력은 유의하게 증가하였다. 이번 연구의 결과는, 녹지를 접하는 것이 심리적 변화뿐만 아니라 인체의 자율신경계와 내분비계 활동에 긍정적 변화를 가져다 준다는 것을 보여주는 것으로써, 녹지가 도시민의 건강증진과 관련하여 매우 직접적인 환경요인이 될 수 있음을 과학적으로 뒷받침한다고 할 수 있다.

Keywords

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