THE EFFECTS OF FOREST TRAIL’S VIRTUAL WINTER LANDSCAPE ON THE ANXIETY STATUS OF YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

Forest environments are widely recognized for their restorative effects, yet research on the benefits of winter forest trails—particularly from a multidimensional perceptual perspective—remains limited. This study conducted a visual-tactile interaction experiment using three virtual snowy forest trail videos (no snow: NS; post-snowfall landscape: A; during snowfall: S) and two tactile stimuli conditions (touching snow: T; not touching snow: DT). Ninety anxious young adults (mean age 22.2 ± 3.28 years) were tested across five virtual settings (NS, A-DT, A-T, S-DT, S-T), with psychological changes measured via the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and State-Anxiety Inventory (S-AI), and physiological changes tracked using electroencephalography (EEG) brainwaves. Results revealed four key findings: (1) Post-snowfall winter trails significantly reduced anxiety, as evidenced by lower total mood disturbance (TMD) and state anxiety (S-AI scores), alongside increased EEG indicators of relaxation and alertness; (2) Both touching snow and experiencing falling snowflakes enhanced brain alertness; (3) The tranquility of snow exerted a particularly strong restorative effect on anxious youths experiencing tension; (4) Snow-touching mediated the recovery of EEG brainwave indicators. These nuanced findings provide insights for designing targeted, seasonally adaptive forest therapy interventions for mental health, emphasizing the importance of carefully integrating sensory modalities in nature-based health practices.