Continuing changes in QOL and mood states staying in a university forest area for five days and four nights

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the absence or existence and the traits and factors of changes occurring in "QOL" and "mood states" of respondents, who generally live in urban areas, during their stay at a university forest in a famous resort area. The research sites included the university forest and its accommodation facilities, which belonged to the Fuji Iyashinomori Woodland Study Center, the University of Tokyo. The respondents were 19 students who participated in the exercise lecture of the graduate school (five days and four nights). Respondents were required to answer WHOQOL26 (for examining QOL) and POMS (for examining mood states). WHOQOL26 was measured twice, on the first morning and the last evening of their stay; meanwhile, POMS was evaluated five times, once every morning. Results confirmed that there were no statistical differences among any of the indicators in the QOL, whereas a statistical difference was detected in four indicators of mood states, including tension" anxiety, depression"dejection, anger"hostility, and confusion. These four indicators appeared to exhibit changes depending on the daily weather composition and exercise schedule.