Psycho-Physiological Effects of a Peony-Viewing Program on Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals at Different Phenological Stages

Ren-Lin Zhao, Gang Zhang, Xi Wang, Bo-Tong Zhang, Li-Na Guo, Li-Xin Niu and Yan-Long Zhang
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Ren-Lin Zhao: College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Gang Zhang: College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Xi Wang: College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Bo-Tong Zhang: College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Li-Na Guo: College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Li-Xin Niu: College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Yan-Long Zhang: College of Landscape Architecture and Arts, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: To address the question of whether the behavior of humans to view different phenological peony flowers has various effects on their physical and mental parameters, we investigated psycho-physiological responses of 74 participants (61.3 ± 10.78 years old) to environments of pre- and post-viewing tree peonies at four stages, including the exhibition leaf stage (ELS), initial bloom stage (IBS), full bloom stage (FBS), and terminal bloom stage (TBS). Physiological factors were examined using systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), fingertip pulse (FP), blood oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ), and psychological evaluation, which was carried out using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The results indicated that the SBP, DBP, HR, and FP levels of participants were significantly reduced after viewing tree peonies, whereas no remarkable alterations in SpO 2 were found. The POMS scores of anger–hostility (A–H), fatigue–inertia (F–I), tension–anxiety (T–A), confusion–bewilderment (C–B), and depression–dejection (D–D) were significantly lower, but of vigor–activity (V–A) was higher post-viewing than pre-viewing. Furthermore, participants exhibited markedly decreased anxiety levels according to the STAI. Notably, the changes in measurement indices were more pronounced at the FBS. Our studies demonstrated that a short peony-viewing program, especially at the FBS with completely opened and large tree peony flowers, would be a promising therapeutic method for improving physiological functions as well as an effective psychological relaxation strategy for middle-aged and elderly individuals.

Keywords: tree peonies; phenological period; campus environment; biofeedback therapy; Profile of Mood States; State–Trait Anxiety Inventory; middle-aged and elderly (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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