Psychophysiological Impact of Touching Landscape Grass among Older Adults

• Published in: Journal of urban health Vol. 101; no. 4; pp. 792 - 803
• Main Authors: Hassan, Ahmad, Deshun, Zhang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.08.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adults; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anxiety; Blood Pressure; China; Cognitive ability; EEG; Electroencephalography; Epidemiology; Female; Grasses; Health Informatics; Health promotion; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - psychology; Male; Mean; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Older people; Original; Original Article; Physiological effects; Poaceae; Pressure effects; Psychological stress; Public Health; Stress, Psychological; Touch; China; Hypertension; Real grass; Landscape activity; Older adults; Brainwave
• ISSN: 1099-3460; 1468-2869; 1468-2869
• DOI: 10.1007/s11524-024-00875-7

Few studies have investigated plants’ healing effects, particularly through touch-based therapy, on older adults. As hypertension rates continue to climb worldwide, touch-based therapy for hypertension prevention has become a significant priority in public health initiatives. This study investigated the impact of tactile interaction with real grass (a landscape activity) versus artificial grass on older adults’ physical and cognitive abilities. Employing a within-subject design, we assessed the physiological and emotional effects of touching real grass versus artificial glass for 10 min. Study participants included 50 Chinese individuals, with an average age of 85.64 ± 3.72 years. Measurements included blood pressure, electroencephalogram, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and standard deviation (SD). Analyzing the SD data revealed that participants experienced a heightened sense of relaxation and calmness after touching real grass, compared to artificial grass. Furthermore, the participants’ brainwave patterns—measured in mean power units—exhibited an upward trend while interacting with real grass, whereas they exhibited a downward trend during the interaction with artificial grass. Moreover, the mean systolic blood pressure significantly decreased following interaction with real grass. These findings suggest that engaging with real grass through touch potentially alleviates mental stress, in contrast to the effects of artificial grass.