Investigating the Qualities of a Recreational Forest: Findings from the Cross-Sectional Hallerwald Case Study

Renate Cervinka, Markus Schwab and Daniela Haluza
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Renate Cervinka: University College for Agrarian and Environmental Pedagogy, 1130 Vienna, Austria
Markus Schwab: University College for Agrarian and Environmental Pedagogy, 1130 Vienna, Austria
Daniela Haluza: Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-13

Abstract: Prior research shows that forests contribute to human health and well-being. In this sense, this cross-sectional case study, adopting the principles of citizen science, assessed the restorative potential of places in the Hallerwald, an Austrian community forest. A convenience sample of adult forest visitors (n = 99, 64% females) completed a survey during a guided 2.5 h forest tour. The German questionnaire assessed the qualities of defined places in the forest. We also investigated changes in mood states, perceived stress, restoration, connectedness, and mindfulness before and after visiting the forest. In cooperation with a local working group, we developed the new Widen One’s Mind (WOM) scale, which showed good scale characteristics. All places received high scores in their potential to increase restoration and vitality and to widen one’s mind. Positive affect, restoration, connectedness with nature and the forest, and mindfulness increased pre- versus post-visits, whereas negative affect and perceived stress decreased. The findings of this study suggest that in recreational forests, visitors experience beneficial mental effects such as stress reduction in addition to physical exercise. To facilitate regional development goals, we recommend evaluating places in forests regarding the potential effects on the health and well-being as well as citizen participation before initiating extensive remodeling.

Keywords: citizen science; green public health; green care; widen one’s mind scale; regional development; restorativeness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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