RESEARCH

Psychophysiological and Metabolomics Responses of Adults during Horticultural Activities Using Soil Inoculated with Streptomyces Rimosus: A Pilot Study

The study found that participants reported feeling significantly calmer, less anxious, and less depressed after experiencing the nature videos and sounds. While the overall change in cortisol levels was not statistically significant (p = 0.571), there was a significant correlation between the mean galvanic skin response peak amplitude and changes in cortisol levels (r = -0.625, p = 0.001).

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: General Population

Setting or Context: Natural Areas/Parks/Forest

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Stress Management, Sensory Stimulation

Allied Profession Intersections: Forest/Ecotherapy

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Outdoor Gardening

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Randomized Controlled Trials, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Standardized Assessment Tools

Access: Free

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Summary

This study looked at whether showing nature videos and playing nature sounds could help lower stress and increase interest in the environment for men in jail. Researchers in Utah worked with 71 male participants at the Salt Lake County Jail. The men were shown 12-minute videos and/or played audio recordings of nature, including forests, mountains, oceans, and streams. The researchers wanted to see if these virtual nature experiences (VNEs) could have a positive impact on individuals with very limited access to real nature.

To figure this out, the researchers measured the men’s stress and interest in nature before and after they experienced the nature videos and sounds. They used surveys to ask about their mood and interest in learning about nature. They also collected saliva samples to measure cortisol, a stress hormone, and used sensors to track galvanic skin response (GSR), another indicator of stress. Additionally, they used facial recognition software to look for signs of positive or negative emotions. The order in which the different nature scenes were shown (forest, mountain, ocean, stream) and whether the participants saw videos or just heard sounds was randomly decided by a computer program.

Link

Park, S.A., Kim, S.O., Son, S.Y. et al. (2021). A preliminary study on physiological changes of humans during soil-mixing activity according to the presence of soil microorganism: Metabolomics approach. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 1330: XV International People Plant Symposium and II International Symposium on Horticultural Therapies: The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development.

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