Gender Differences in Stress Reduction: How the Five Senses Forest Therapy Enhances Well-Being in University Students

• Published in: Forests Vol. 15; no. 12; p. 2208
• Main Authors: Yang, Yujun, Xu, Mengwei, Lin, Chiamin, Sun, Qimeng, Li, Jianjun, Peng, Liang, Chang, Weiyin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.12.2024
• Subjects: Chronic illnesses; College students; Colleges & universities; COVID-19; Emotions; Epidemics; Exercise; Females; Forestry; Forests; Gender; Gender aspects; Heart beat; Heart rate; Mental disorders; Mental health; Outdoor activities; Pandemics; Physical fitness; Physiological effects; Physiology; Psychological aspects; Recovery; Senses; Sex differences; Software; Stress; Stress management; Students; Therapy; University students; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Well being; China
• ISSN: 1999-4907; 1999-4907
• DOI: 10.3390/f15122208

Forest therapy is known to promote physical and mental well-being, but its specific impact on physiological and psychological recovery in university students, particularly across genders, remains underexplored. This study examined the effects of a five-hour forest therapy session involving sensory-based activities on 48 students (30 males and 18 females). The key outcomes measured included pulse rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and mood states. Significant reductions in pulse rate and anxiety were observed, with females showing greater physiological and emotional recovery. These findings suggest that forest therapy may serve as an effective intervention for stress relief, particularly for females, and highlight the potential of sensory-based therapies in promoting student well-being.