Next Article in Journal
Physiological and Psychological Effects of Forest Therapy on Middle-Aged Males with High-Normal Blood Pressure
Previous Article in Journal
Factors Associated with Atopy in Toddlers: A Case-Control Study
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 12
Issue 3
10.3390/ijerph120302521
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Physiological and Psychological Effects on High School Students of Viewing Real and Artificial Pansies

by
Miho Igarashi
1,
Mariko Aga
1,
Harumi Ikei
1,
Takafumi Namekawa
2 and
Yoshifumi Miyazaki
1,*
1
Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, 6-2-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
2
Chiba Prefectural Kashiwanoha Senior High School, 6-1 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(3), 2521-2531; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120302521
Submission received: 26 January 2015 / Revised: 14 February 2015 / Accepted: 17 February 2015 / Published: 25 February 2015
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

The relaxation effects of gardening have attracted attention; however, very few studies have researched its physiological effects on humans. This study aimed to clarify the physiological and psychological effects on high school students of viewing real and artificial pansies. Forty high school students (male: 19, female: 21) at Chiba Prefectural Kashiwanoha Senior High School, Japan, participated in this experiment. The subjects were presented with a visual stimulation of fresh yellow pansies (Viola x wittrockiana “Nature Clear Lemon”) in a planter for 3 min. Artificial yellow pansies in a planter were used as the control. Heart rate variability was used as a physiological measurement and the modified semantic differential method was used for subjective evaluation. Compared with artificial pansies, visual stimulation with real flowers resulted in a significant decrease in the ratio of low- to high-frequency heart rate variability component, which reflects sympathetic nerve activity. In contrast, high frequency, which reflects parasympathetic nerve activity, showed no significant difference. With regard to the psychological indices, viewing real flowers resulted in “comfortable”, “relaxed”, and “natural” feelings. The findings indicate that visual stimulation with real pansies induced physiological and psychological relaxation effects in high school students.
Keywords: flowers; artificial flowers; horticultural therapy; high school students; stress reduction; heart rate variability flowers; artificial flowers; horticultural therapy; high school students; stress reduction; heart rate variability

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Igarashi, M.; Aga, M.; Ikei, H.; Namekawa, T.; Miyazaki, Y. Physiological and Psychological Effects on High School Students of Viewing Real and Artificial Pansies. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12, 2521-2531. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120302521

AMA Style

Igarashi M, Aga M, Ikei H, Namekawa T, Miyazaki Y. Physiological and Psychological Effects on High School Students of Viewing Real and Artificial Pansies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2015; 12(3):2521-2531. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120302521

Chicago/Turabian Style

Igarashi, Miho, Mariko Aga, Harumi Ikei, Takafumi Namekawa, and Yoshifumi Miyazaki. 2015. "Physiological and Psychological Effects on High School Students of Viewing Real and Artificial Pansies" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12, no. 3: 2521-2531. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120302521

APA Style

Igarashi, M., Aga, M., Ikei, H., Namekawa, T., & Miyazaki, Y. (2015). Physiological and Psychological Effects on High School Students of Viewing Real and Artificial Pansies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(3), 2521-2531. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120302521

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop