The Feasibility and Impact of Practising Online Forest Bathing to Improve Anxiety, Rumination, Social Connection and Long-COVID Symptoms: A Pilot Study

Kirsten McEwan (), Harriet Collett, Jean Nairn, Jamie Bird, Mark A. Faghy, Eric Pfeifer, Jessica E. Jackson, Caroline Cook and Amanda Bond
Additional contact information
Kirsten McEwan: College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
Harriet Collett: Kindred Soil, Bristol BS6 5BP, UK
Jean Nairn: Woodlands Breathing, Edinburgh EH27 8BW, UK
Jamie Bird: College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
Mark A. Faghy: Biomedical Research Theme, School of Human Sciences, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
Eric Pfeifer: Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Karlstr. 63, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
Jessica E. Jackson: College of Health, Psychology and Social Care, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK
Caroline Cook: Well with Nature, Dronfield, Derbyshire S18 4AX, UK
Amanda Bond: Wild Edgewalker Forest Therapy, Jersey JE3 8AF, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Long-COVID affects over 144 million people globally. In the absence of treatments, there is a need to establish the efficacy of therapies that improve patient outcomes. Forest bathing has been demonstrated to improve physical and mental outcomes but there is no evidence in Long-COVID patients. Accordingly, this pilot study sought to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of online forest bathing in adults with Long-COVID. Methods: Feasibility was assessed by monitoring retention rates and participant feedback. In a waitlist controlled, repeated measures design, 22 Long-COVID patients completed weekly online surveys during a four-week waitlist control period, before engaging in four weekly online forest bathing sessions, completing post-intervention surveys following each session. Results: In terms of retention, 27% did not provide post-intervention data, reasons for non-adherence were: feeling too ill, having medical appointments, or having career responsibilities. Compared with the waitlist control period, there were statistically significant improvements in Anxiety (49% decrease), Rumination (48% decrease), Social Connection (78% increase), and Long-COVID symptoms (22% decrease). Written qualitative comments indicated that participants experienced feelings of calm and joy, felt more connected socially and with nature, and experienced a break from the pain and rumination surrounding their illness. Conclusions: Online Forest bathing resulted in significant improvements in well-being and symptom severity and could be considered an accessible and inexpensive adjunct therapy for Long-COVID patients. Where people have limited access to in-person nature, virtual nature may offer an alternative to improve health and well-being outcomes.

Keywords: anxiety; Long-COVID; COVID-19; forest bathing; health; social connection; well-being (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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