Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology (한국환경생태학회지)

Korean Society of Environment and Ecology (한국환경생태학회)
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The Effect of Forest Therapy Program on Stress Reduction in Middle-aged Women

산림치유 프로그램이 중년 여성의 스트레스 저감에 미치는 영향

  • Yong-Koo Jung (Dept. of Forest Therapy, Graduate School, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Won-Soep Shin (Graduate School Chungbuk National Univ.)
  • 정용구 (충북대학교 대학원 산림치유학과) ;
  • 신원섭 (충북대학교 대학원 산림학과)
  • Received : 2023.08.01
  • Accepted : 2023.11.16
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Middle-aged women experience a lot of physical and mental stress during their developmental cycle. This stress reduces the quality of life because it leads to chronic pain and disease. Forest therapy is attracting attention as an alternative to this. Forest therapy refers to improving human health through the therapeutic elements of forests. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine whether a sensory insight-based forest therapy program was effective in reducing stress in middle-aged women. For this purpose, middle-aged women who wanted to participate in the forest therapy program were recruited, 20 each were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group, and pre- and post-tests were conducted. The forest therapy program consisted of 8 sessions of 6 hours based on sense and insight. The forest therapy program was held at Saryeoni Forest in Jeju, and the measurement tools were compared by measuring perceived stress, leisure satisfaction, and stress index through pulse wave testing. The results of the study showed that the forest therapy program lowered stress and improved leisure satisfaction.

중년여성은 발달주기 상 신체적, 정신적 스트레스를 많이 받는 시기이다. 이러한 스트레스는 만성적인 고통과 질병으로 연결되기 때문에 삶의 질을 저하시키는 원인이 된다. 이에 대한 대안으로 산림치유가 주목받고 있다. 산림치유는 산림의 치유적 요소를 통해 인간의 건강을 향상시키는 것을 말한다. 이에 본 연구는 감각통찰기반 산림치유 프로그램이 중년 여성의 스트레스 저감에 효과가 있는지를 확인하기 위하여 수행되었다. 이를 위해 산림치유 프로그램에 참가하기를 원하는 중년 여성을 모집하여 실험집단과 통제집단으로 각 20명씩 무작위 배정하여 사전-사후 검사를 실시하였다. 산림치유 프로그램은 감각과 통찰 기반으로 6시간 8회기로 구성되었다. 산림치유 프로그램 장소는 제주 사려니숲에서 진행하였으며, 측정도구는 지각된 스트레스, 여가만족도, 맥파검사를 통한 스트레스 지수를 측정하여 비교하였다. 연구 결과 산림치유 프로그램은 스트레스를 낮추고, 여가만족도를 향상시키는 것으로 나타났다.

Keywords

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