| Author: | Yau, Ka Yin |
| Title: | The effects of forest bathing (forest therapy) and diaphragmatic deep breathing exercise on pre-hypertensive and hypertensive adults in Hong Kong : a quasi-experimental feasibility study |
| Advisors: | Loke, Yuen Alice (SN) |
| Degree: | DHSc |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Subject: | Breathing exercises -- Therapeutic use Forests -- Therapeutic use Hypertension -- Alternative treatment Anxiety--Alternative treatment Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Faculty of Health and Social Sciences |
| Pages: | xv, 173 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine and compare the therapeutic effects of forest bathing and diaphragmatic deep breathing exercise on blood pressure, pulse rate, mood change and anxiety level of middle-aged adults who suffered from pre-hypertension or hypertension in Hong Kong. Methods: A quasi-experimental feasibility study. Eligible participants took part in either forest bathing (FB) or diaphragmatic deep breathing exercise (DDBE) at their own choice. The forest bathing group (n=21) received four sessions of forest bathing in a country park, while diaphragmatic deep breathing exercise group (n=12) received four sessions of diaphragmatic deep breathing exercise in a quiet room followed with 10 minutes self-practice of diaphragmatic deep breathing twice a day for four weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse rate (PR), mood states measured by Chinese version of Profile of Mood States (C-POMS) and anxiety level measured by Chinese version of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (C-STAI) were measured before (baseline) and immediate before and after each intervention, and eight weeks post intervention as follow-up assessment. Results: After four-consecutive weeks of intervention, FB group achieved significant decreased in SBP 7.45 mmHg (t=2.44; p<0.05). While there was no statistically significant effect of four weeks of FB intervention on DBP and PR, which decreased by 2.66 mmHg (t=0.96, p>0.05) and 3.57 beats/min (t=-1.77, p>0.05), respectively. A significant decreased in the scores of state anxiety level of 11.5 (t=5.12, p<0.001), trait anxiety level of 6.42 (t=3.21, p<0.01), the total mood states of 14.85 (t=4.93, p<0.001), tension-anxiety of 3.28 (t=4.51, p<0.001), depression of 2.04 (t=2.94, p<0.01), fatigue of 4.14 (t=,4.98 p<0.001), anger of 2.38 (t=4.33, p<0.001) and confusion of 2.0 (t=2.78, p<0.01) were observed after completion of the 4-week of FB intervention. DDBE intervention had no statistically significant effect on lowering SBP, DBP and PR, which decreased by 3.95 mmHg (t= 0.83, p>0.05), 4.66 mmHg (t=1.79, p>0.05) and 7.75 beats/min (t=1.98, p>0.05), respectively. However, after completion of the four weeks of DDBE intervention, there was a significant decreased of the scores of stat anxiety level of 8.08 (t=2.49, p<0.05), trait anxiety level 6.25 (t=2.55, p<0.05), total mood states 9.08 (t=2.62, p<0.05), tension-anxiety 1.66 (t=3.0, p<0.01) and confusion 1.83 (t=2.56, p<0.05). Compared with DDBE, FB was more effective in lowering SBP, reducing state and trait anxiety level and improving negative mood, while DDBE was more effective in decrease of PR. Lastly, at 8-week after intervention, FB had significant sustained effect of lowering PR 6.97 beats/min (t=2.56, p<0.05) only, while the score of state anxiety level were significant increased by 7.42 (t=3.34, p<0.01). DDBE had no sustained effect on blood pressure, pulse rate, anxiety level and mood state. Conclusions: The findings provide a preliminary evidence that while both FB and/or DDBE may be beneficial for the management of hypertension and mental health, visits to forest environment with four consecutive weekends had more effective in lowering SBP and anxiety level than practice of DDBE on pre-hypertensive and hypertensive middle-aged adults in Hong Kong. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6331.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.35 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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