• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.207-218
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• 2021

This study was conducted to provide basic data for the establishment school forests in order to utilize school forests as a place for environmental education through analyzing the planting status in elementary schools located in Changwon-city. School forests including meditation forest were the largest in Yongho elementary school (below e.s.) in meditation forest school and Dogye (e.s) in normal school. Jehwang (e.s.) and Sangnam (e.s.) showed the most abundant green area given for the management per member. The number of planting species and individuals in school forests differed greatly by elementary schools. There was also a difference in the number of planted species for establishment of meditation forest. There were no significant difference the concordance rate between the plants planted in the school forest and the plants mentioned in the textbook between meditation forest schools and normal schools. Index of ecological health averaged 3.2 for meditation forest schools and 2.4 for normal schools, which is the result of increase in green area and green rate due to the establishment of the meditation forest.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.273-288
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• 2023

Although many studies have been conducted on techniques and effects that can be applied to forest meditation in domestic forest healing meditation research, there has been little research on the space where forest meditation takes place. Nevertheless, a meditation space is not just a place concept but a forest environment element responsible for the healing function of a forest, i.e., a place containing healing factors, and can be an essential clue to the healing mechanism. Therefore, to determine whether a healing forest meditation space is suitable for meditation, this study selected the attribute items of the meditation space using the Delphi expert survey and then surveyed the user satisfaction of the healing forest meditation space using the IPA (Importance Performance Analysis) technique. The survey was conducted from August to November 2022, targeting 315 adults who used the forest meditation space at the National Center for Forest Therapy, the Saneum Healing Forest, and the Jathyanggi Pureunsup Arboretum in Gyeonggi Province. The result of the IPA analysis showed the average satisfaction with the forest meditation space was relatively high at 4.33 points on a 5-point Likert scale (4.33 points for the National Center for Forest Therapy, 4.34 points for the Saneum Healing Forest, and 4.37 points for the Jathyanggi Pureunsup Arboretum), indicating that the three healing forest meditation spaces were suitable for forest meditation. Satisfaction with the "Sounds of nature" was high in all three forests. On the other hand, all three forests showed a relatively low satisfaction with "Quietness," indicating it to be a priority problem to be addressed. Also, an open-ended questionnaire survey showed that the mediation space's natural elements, such as natural sounds, scenery, air, forest spaces, and scents, had a higher positive impact on meditation satisfaction than artificial elements, such as facilities. Therefore, it is essential to secure sound resources such as the sound of water and birds around the meditation space, and it is also necessary to consider ways to create a meditation forest in an independent area to avoid encounters with visitors and allow only participants in the forest healing meditation program to enter to increase satisfaction with forest meditation.

• 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.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.492-497
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• 2022

Objectives: Women experience more stress in middle age than in other periods of their lives. Therefore, health management programs that enable middle-aged women to cope with and manage stress are needed. This study investigated the psychological effects of a meditation-focused forest therapy program among 53 middle-aged women living in urban areas in Korea. Methods: Participants were divided into 2 groups: one group underwent the program for 3 days in a forest, followed by 3 days in an urban environment, and the other group underwent the program for 3 days in the urban environment, followed by 3 days in the forest. The psychological effects of the forest therapy program were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States-Brief (POMS-B). Differences in mood state before and after the program conducted in the forest (experimental group) and in the urban environment (control group) were evaluated using the paired-samples t-test. Results: The program in the forest significantly reduced tension, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion among the domains of the POMS-B. The program in the urban area significantly reduced tension, but not depression, anger, fatigue, or confusion. Conclusions: Meditation-focused forest therapy programs are expected to contribute to promoting psychological health and enhancing the quality of life of middle-aged women.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.68-80
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• 2019

This study is to provide basic data for the user-oriented design for a middle school meditation forest in the future by analyzing the physical environment characteristics of existing middle school meditation forests, the users' utilization behavior, and the degree of the importance satisfaction. For this purpose, 24 evaluation indices based on site characteristics, naturalness, functionality, and the effectiveness of meditation forest sites were selected for analysis of importance satisfaction. We surveyed and analyzed the students and teachers of two middle schools 'A' and 'B' in Gwangju Metropolitan City. The results of this study are as follows. First, the perception and utilization rates of the meditation forests by students was significantly lower than teachers at both schools. 'A' school has a better use and recognition rate than the 'B' school. Second, the purposes of using meditation forests were rest (49.6%), weekday lunchtime (63.6%), with friends (65.0%) or colleagues (60%), and short (less than 10 minutes) rests (68.6%). They preferred flowers (30.0%) and shading plants (28.9%), mainly using shelters (57.9%) and walking trails (37.1%). Third, as a result of the importance of satisfaction analysis, the average score of the 24 items importance (3.81), higher than the satisfaction (3.62). The 24 items positioned in 4 quadrants are as follows: Nine items are in the I quadrant for 'persistent maintenance'. Three items are in the II quadrant for 'priority correction'. Seven items are in the quadrant III for 'low priority in the management and operation'. Five items are in the quadrant IV for 'avoid over effort'. For the comparison of two middle schools' satisfaction, 'A' school satisfaction was higher than 'B' school for 16 items, which showed a statistically significant difference. It is believed that the users in 'A' school are more satisfied than 'B' school because it has more forests and trails, better accessibility, and a variety of plant types and planting areas in the A school meditation forest. The results of the overall satisfaction analysis showed a significant difference between 'A' school (68.0%) and 'B' school (47.2%) as 'A' school has better shelters and trails. The rankings of the most satisfying space are walking trails (1st place) and shelters (2nd place). The reason for the highest satisfaction was for rest (stress relief and emotional support) in both 'A' and 'B' schools.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.963-972
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• 2016

A survey was performed to present a scheme for building a healing forest park inside a city in consideration of the fact that healing forests are located in non-urban areas because of their nature, and are therefore not conveniently accessible to urban population (n=196). As a result, among 196 respondents to the survey, 74.5% indicated that it was necessary to build an urban healing forest park. In the case of the expected usage pattern, were an urban forest park to be built, the largest proportion responded that it would be used to "walk", followed by "rest and meditation" and then "meeting/talk/date". An analysis showed that the largest proportion responded that they factor in "Accessibility" (48%), followed by "Park condition" (16.8%), and "Vegetation type" (12.2%). According to the analysis of usage preference for healing therapy, it was shown that the largest proportion preferred "Terrain therapy" (37.8%), followed by "Exercise therapy" (19.9%), and "Naturopathy" (18.9%). The factor anlaysis of usage preference regarding urban healing forest park facilities showed that the components were divided into "Operation facilities" and "Natural healing space", and the largest proportion preferred "Trails for healing", followed by "Space or forest for meditation" and "Health promotion center", and then "Facilities for a exercise therapy". In building an urban healing forest park, we think that it is effective to introduce zones and facilities in consideration of park characteristics that are centered on everyday behaviors, such as taking a walk, which differ from those of healing forests located in non-urban areas.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.693-702
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for developing effective forest healing programs for retirees by identifying their characteristics and preferences. A survey was conducted on demographic characteristics, overall perceptions of forest healing, and preferences for forest healing programs, targeting a total of 258 retirees visiting a natural recreation forest and a healing forest. The results of the survey suggested that the awareness of the forest treatment program and the hope of participating in it were both high, but the experience of participating in the program was low. Among the forest healing programs, the order of preference was "Breath in the forest", "Wind bathing and sunbathing", and "Feeling negative ions in the valley". Based on these results, it is expected that the forest healing program for retirees will be used as basic data for development of such programs in the future.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.300-311
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• 2017

Purpose: There are many forest and outdoor programs being offered but systematic reviews of effects are lacking. This study was done to identify content, format, and strategies of forest therapy programs for elementary school students. Methods: Literature search using keywords in English and Korean was performed using 6 electronic databases in December 2016. Search participants were elementary school students and interventions conducted in the forest. Seventeen forest therapy studies were selected for evaluation. Risk of Bias Assessment tool for non-randomized study was used for quality assessment. Results: All studies were quasi-experimental designs. Forest therapy programs included various activities in forests such as experience of five senses, meditation in the forest, walking in the forest, ecological play, observation of animals and insects. All studies used psychosocial health variables and forest healing programs had positive effects on sociality, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, stress, aggression, anger, and school adjustment. Limitations of these studies were vague reporting of the study, lack of ethical review and rigorous research designs. Conclusion: Forest therapy for elementary school child can be an effective way to improve psychosocial health. Future studies with rigorous study designs are needed to assess long-term effects of forest therapy on physical and psychosocial health.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.395-410
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate 199 subfertile women's interest in and needs for forest therapy programs according to their demographic characteristics in a subfertile clinic in Seoul to provide basic data. The results of this study were summarized as follows. First, the perception and experience of subfertile women about forest therapy were all low, but their intention to participate was generally positive. Second, the type of forest therapy preferred by subfertile women was a half-day small group that they can participate with their spouse during weekends. Third, subfertile women expected phytoncide (35.8%) and a high level of oxygen (29.9%) from forest therapy programs. Fourth, subfertile women expected physical and mental health such as improved blood circulation and immunity, and meditation opportunity from forest therapy. Fifth, subfertile women expected from forest therapists understanding and sympathy (62.2%). This study conducted a survey on 199 subfertile women only. Through follow-up studies that involve more subfertile subjects and a broader region, it will be possible to develop more effective forest therapy programs for promoting the physical and mental health of subfertile subjects.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.227-234
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• 2022

Purpose: Smoking is a way of coping with anxiety and stress. This study aimed to identify the effects of forest-thermal combined therapy on anxiety and depression in smokers who desire to quit smoking. Methods: Thirty participants were included in the study, 15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. Those in the experimental group participated in a three-day forest-thermal combined therapy program. The program includes forest walks, meditation and thermal therapy in the charcoal kiln. Results: Before and after the program, physiological indicators such as cortisol, heart rate variability, and serotonin anxiety level using the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), and stress level using the psychosocial well-being index (PWI) were measured in both groups. The differences in STAI (p=.012) and PWI (p=.006) scores between the experimental and control groups were statistically significant. However, cortisol, heart rate variability, and serotonin were not significantly different between the two groups after the program. Conclusion: These results show that forest-thermal combination therapy effectively reduces anxiety and stress in smokers. It suggests that forest-thermal therapy can potentially increase smoking cessation rates.