{"id":10446,"date":"2024-01-16T09:10:52","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T15:10:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin-new\/?post_type=campus_story&p=10446"},"modified":"2024-01-16T09:10:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T15:10:52","slug":"health-benefits-of-forest-bathing-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"campus_story","link":"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/all-in-wisconsin\/story\/health-benefits-of-forest-bathing-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Health benefits of forest bathing for kids"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>
2019 forest bathing experience led by Namyun Kil, UWL associate professor of Recreation Management & Recreation Therapy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Study finds mental and physiological health benefits for kids and teens who participate in structured forest therapy<\/h3>\n
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A UW-La Crosse\u00a0study found substantial health and well-being improvements<\/a>\u00a0for children and adolescents who participated in a structured forest bathing session. The improvements were both mental and physiological \u2014 including a measured decrease in blood pressure over the course of the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese findings provide implications for health program providers including practitioners to promote forest bathing programs for children and adolescents with mental health challenges,\u201d says UWL Associate Professor Namyun Kil, the study\u2019s lead author.<\/p>\n

Forest bathing, also called forest therapy, is a slow and mindful immersion experience in a natural setting. The practice, which originated in Japan in the 1980s, has received growing attention for its ability to promote relaxation and improve health and well-being outcomes for various populations. The UWL study looked specifically at the benefits for children and adolescents with mental health challenges.<\/p>\n

The study found that two structured forest bathing walks significantly improved the health and well-being of children and adolescents who have mental health challenges. The improvements were both psychological and physiological in areas of mindfulness, nature connection, mood states, place meanings, and physiological health. A collaboration between UWL\u2019s of Recreation Management and Recreational Therapy, Korea Forest Therapy Forum Incorporated Association, and Hiawatha Valley Education District-SAIL Program (two former students coauthored), the study was published in the \u201cInternational Journal of Mental Health Promotion Psychological and Physiological Health<\/a>\u201d in November 2023.<\/p>\n

In the study, twelve participants, ages 9\u201314 years, engaged in two, one-hour guided forest therapy experiences on a one-half mile of the Hixon Forest trail in July 2019. The study subjects had mental and cooccurring behavioral health issues, such as anxiety, stress, trauma, attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. Several scales were used to measure the children and adolescents\u2019 mindfulness, connection to nature, mood states, place meaning, and physiological health responses before and after the walks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Health benefits of structured forest bathing for kids study results<\/h3>\n
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\"Photo<\/a>
Namyun Kil specializes in evidence-based therapeutic interventions such as nature and forest therapy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Namyun Kil specializes in evidence-based therapeutic interventions such as nature and forest therapy.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n