본 연구는 숲속에서의 태교활동이 임산부의 스트레스 감소에 미치는 효과를 규명하기 위하여 수행되었다. 피험자로는 과거 병력이 없는 51명의 임산부(28±3.0세)가 참가하였다. 실험 참가 전날 도시환경에서의 심리적·생리적 변화를 측정하였으며1박 2일의 숲태교 프로그램을 진행한 후 도시환경에서의 측정방법과 동일한 방법으로 비교측정이 이루어졌다. 심리지표로서BDHI(공격성 척도), BHOP(무망감 척도), STAI-X-1(상태불안 척도), DIS(역기능성 행동척도)에 관한 설문조사를 하였다.생리지표로서는 심박변동성과 코티솔을 측정하였다. 본 연구의 결과 1박 2일의 숲태교 프로그램에 참여한 후 임산부들의공격성과 불안감이 감소되고 부정적인 사고가 감소하여 심리적 안녕감이 증진되는 결과를 얻을 수 있었다. 이 결과를 통하여숲속에서의 태교활동이 산모의 임신 중 스트레스를 감소시키며 심리적 안녕감을 증가시킨다는 사실을 밝힐 수 있었다.

This study was conducted to examine how inhaling woody essential oil during work influences attention. The indoor experiment was conducted using woody essential oil that blends Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl.) and pine (Pinus densiflora Siebold & Zucc.) and the control experiment was done with odorless air. The subjects were 19 high school and college students (male: 8, female: 11, average age: 19.47±3.20) and double-blind cross-over trial was conducted to identify the effect of essential oil on the body and attention. The subjects sat on the chair and closed their eyes for stabilization for 30 seconds. Then, they inhaled woody essential oil and odorless air for three minutes each. During each stimulation periods, the subjects calculated a multiplication of two digit-numbers in their minds and their heart rate variability (HRV) was measured. Physiological changes were measured using the total variation of LF/HF, which is an indicator of activities of sympathetic nerves and psychological changes were measured using the Semantic Differential Method (SD method) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). As a result, inhaling woody essential oil increased total variation of LF/HF (diffrence of LF/HF in stimulation and LF/HF in rest; ΔLF/HF) compared to inhaling odorless air and led to the activation of sympathetic nerves. Also, it increased tranquility and reduced anger (A-H) and total mental disorder (TMD) among the psychological indicators. In case of calculations, it significantly increased the number of multiplications solved, number of correct answers, and percentage of correct answers. Overall, this study showed that inhaling woody essential oil during work effectively improved the subjects' attention.

This study evaluates the physiological and psychological relaxing effects of viewing the scenery in the Jangseong healing forest. Twenty-two university students (20.9 ± 1.3 years old) participated in the study. An experiment was conducted in the Jangseong healing forest, and a control experiment was performed in the city. The physiological indicators used in the study were the heart rate variability and heart rate of the participants. Subjective assessments (SD method, POMS, and STAI) were used as psychological indicators. The participants sat on a chair watching the scenery in the forest area and the urban area for 10 minutes each. The results indicate that viewing the scenery in the forest can increase parasympathetic nerve activity as compared with that in the city. In addition, the forest environment can enhance “comfortable,” “natural,” and “soothed” feelings; alleviate negative emotions; and reduce anxiety. The results clearly indicate that viewing the scenery in the Jangseong healing forest induced physiological and psychological relaxation.