The Feasibility and Impact of Practising Online Forest Bathing to Improve Anxiety, Rumination, Social Connection and Long-COVID Symptoms: A Pilot Study
Journal article
Authors | Kirsten McEwan, Collett, H., Nairn, J., Jamie Bird, Mark A. Faghy, Pfeifer, E., Jackson, J., Cook, C. and Bond, A. |
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Abstract | 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 | long COVID; forest bathing ; social connection |
Year | 2022 |
Journal | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
Journal citation | 19 (22), pp. 1-12 |
Publisher | MDPI |
ISSN | 1661-7827 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214905 |
Web address (URL) | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214905 |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | 12 Nov 2022 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 07 Nov 2022 |
Deposited | 19 Dec 2022 |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/9vz87/the-feasibility-and-impact-of-practising-online-forest-bathing-to-improve-anxiety-rumination-social-connection-and-long-covid-symptoms-a-pilot-study
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