摘要/
隨著快速的經濟發展與人口老化，臺灣之高齡者已達到13.33%，即將邁向高齡社會。有鑒於森林能增強人體健康，世界各國已日益重視森林對於人類健康效應的研究，而國內森林與醫學領域的合作研究尚在萌芽階段，相關研究有限。本研究以臺灣大學實驗林溪頭自然教育園區作為試驗場域，進行生理與心理量測，探討森林療癒對中高齡與高齡者健康效益之影響。目的在於證實森林療癒對於人類之健康效益，並提出未來的研究展望，供國內相關研究人員參考，更進一步提供臺灣大學實驗林森林療癒推展之參考依據與方向，促進國民健康。
本研究之生理指標採用心跳、血壓、唾液澱粉酶活性以及心跳變異率，心理指標則採用盤斯心情量表與情境焦慮量表，並透過流行病學研究中心憂鬱量表、自然連結經驗子量表、受試者背景資料以及環境因子作為參考依據。研究對象部分，每梯次挑選年滿45 歲以上自願受試者10-12 名中高齡與高齡者參與森林療癒導覽健行活動。研究分析採用敘述性統計、成對樣本t檢定、獨立樣本t檢定以及皮爾森積差相關係數。本研究共收取153 份樣本，經篩選後之有效樣本128 份，平均年齡為60.0 歲。結果顯示森林療癒在生理方面可以有效降低心跳、血壓以及唾液澱粉酶活性，而心跳變異率未達顯著，在心理方面可以有效降低緊張、生氣、疲倦、沮喪、混亂、焦慮等負面情緒，並提升精神活力之正向情緒。部分受試者背景會影響森林療癒之生心理健康效益，而自然連結經驗與部分森林療癒之生心理健康效益具顯著相關。總體而言，本研究結果證實了森林療癒對中高齡與高齡者身心健康的影響，也說明了森林療癒在預防醫學與公共衛生領域扮演重要角色。
Taiwan has experienced significant economic growth and a rapid increase in senior population. Currently, 13.3% of people are aged 65 years or older. Forests have been considered to be a positive contribution to human health worldwide. Unfortunately, relevant research in Taiwan is limited. The present study investigated changes in psychophysiological health benefits after a short forest bathing program in the Xitou Nature Education Area, Taiwan. One hundred and twenty-eight middle-aged and elderly participants (60.0 years on average) were recruited. Physiological responses (heart rate, blood pressure, salivary alpha-amylase, and heart rate variability) and psychological indices (Profile of Mood States and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) were used to measure before and after the program.
The result showed that heart rate, blood pressure, and salivary amylase activity were significantly lower after the program, which indicated physiological benefits from stress recovery. However, changes in heart rate variability were nonsignificant. The negative moods of tension, anger, fatigue, depression, confusion, and anxiety were significantly lower, whereas the positive mood of vigor was higher. The Study also found that subgroups benefitted differently with the forest therapy. Subject’s nature experience significantly correlates with forest therapy. In general, this study determined that the short forest bathing program is a promising therapeutic method for enhancing physiological functions as well as an effective psychological relaxation strategy for middle-aged and elderly individuals.
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