Psychological and Physical Change at the Green Area in the Middle of the Urban Square

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess healthy people's psychological and physical changes when spending time in an green area in the middle of the urban square. Method: 10 subjects (20-26 years old) were asked to remain for one hour in a green area area in the JR Akihabara station square, in the middle of the urban square, on a sunny September morning. 10 other control subjects were asked to remain in a tent erected near the green area which was positioned so that the participants could not see the green area. Results: Participants in the green area showed a reduced Profile of Mood State (POMS) for anger-hostility (p <0.05). Recorded quantities of salivary cortisol of subjects in the green area also reduced. Conclusion: Green areas in the center of busy towns have a positive effect on health psychologicaly and physiologicaly. These results were obtained from a study commissioned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and undertaken by the Organization for Landscape and Urban Greenery Technology Development in which the author participated.