Studies have shown that spending time in nature has psychological, emotional and physical benefits. To maximize the benefits of spending time in nature for people over 65, researchers have revealed.
Researchers from Penn State, the National Open University in Taiwan, and the Lunghwa University of Science and Technology in Taiwan studied the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of a group of elders — people over the age of 65 — who spent time in a natural area on a regular basis.
Cultivating social relationships around nature-based activities may be linked to better health and quality of life in older adults, according to researchers. In Japan, the term shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing” was developed to refer to spending time in nature while engaging all the senses: tasting the air, smelling the forest, listening to the stream, and being present to whatever you want. Experiences.
For older people who have trouble walking quickly on difficult trails, forest bathing can be a pleasant and safe way to spend time in nature. According to the researchers, forest bathing is popular among the elderly in Japan, China and Taiwan, where the practice originated, and is growing in popularity in the United States.
Researchers studied elderly visitors to the Xitou Education Area, a nature reserve in Taiwan. Between April and June 2022, researchers surveyed 292 park visitors who were at least 65 years old and visited the park at least once a week. Participants were asked a range of questions, from whether they felt supported by others, to how much they thought about their future, to what meaning they had in their lives.
The results of the study were published in the journal Leisure Sciences. The researchers found that people who discussed their experiences in nature with others had a greater sense of attachment to forest bathing and a stronger sense of purpose in life.
Previous research supports the conclusion that these factors are associated with better physical and mental health and a higher quality of life. This finding may guide leisure service providers working in a variety of settings, including community recreation departments and retirement villages, on how to facilitate leisure for older people, according to John Dattil, professor of recreation, park and tourism management at Penn State and co-author of the research. .
“Seniors have access to community and state parks where it’s safe for them to spend time in nature: places with walking paths and convenient and accessible parking are helpful,” explained Dattilo. Agencies can publicize these opportunities and help identify the value they offer to elders and others.
“Even better, leisure service providers could provide transportation and then facilitate social interactions between participants,” Dattilo continued. “Allowing people to go out into nature and get to know their surroundings is one of the aspects of forest bathing. Part of what we found is a link between positive social relationships and spending time in nature. So if leisure providers create opportunities for older people to come back from an experience, meet for a warm drink and talk about their experiences, those connections will be valuable to people’s sense of purpose.”
According to Liang-Chih Chang, a professor of life sciences at the National Open University in New Taipei City, Taiwan, an improved sense of purpose is associated with better physical functioning, a higher quality of life and a lower fear of death. Forest bathing matters, he continued, because it might help people foster that sense.
“Bathing in the forest seems to connect people to the moment and the world,” Chang said. “When elders use the same experience to develop social bonds and support, they can experience a wide range of benefits associated with physiological functioning as well as cognitive health. It’s association, not cause and effect, but it’s exciting to consider the possible implications.”
The study continues Dattil’s research into the value of leisure for the elderly, which he has been investigating with his collaborators in Taiwan and locally with colleagues at Penn State’s Center for Healthy Aging.
“We did research on square dancing and karaoke, which are both common activities for elders in Asia,” Dattilo said. “Forest bathing is unique in that it is closely related to hiking, walking or sitting in nature, which many older people around the world do. If leisure service providers facilitate exposure to nature and help participants build a sense of community around these experiences, then seniors could live not only healthier lives, but richer and more meaningful ones.”
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