Search Results (68)

Open habitats in forests perform several important functions. In addition to enriching biodiversity, they have an impact on the diversification of the forest landscape, and through complex processes and trophic relationships, they provide greater sustainability in forest communities. It turns out that they are also important not only for the functioning of nature, but also due to their regenerative properties, through which people can improve their well-being and recover their mental balance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and to what extent mid-forest open dunes and wetlands are able to provide people with feelings of relaxation and mental renewal. The study was conducted in June 2024 in one of the forest complexes located in the suburban zone of Warsaw. The experiment was conducted with the participation of 52 young adult volunteers. The experiment used a pre–posttest method. The subjects’ mood and well-being were determined using four psychological questionnaires: the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS), Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS), and Profile of Mood States (POMSs). The key findings from the research conducted are as follows: compared to the control sample (before entering the forest), exposure to all three variants of greenery had a restorative effect on the experimental participants; the water environment had the most favorable effect compared to the control sample (before entering the forest); and exposure to this environment provided the greatest increase in positive feelings and the greatest decrease in negative feelings. Research has shown that areas important for preserving forest biodiversity are also important for humans because of their high restorative properties. Preserving non-forest enclaves in forests and promoting their regenerative values for humans can be one nature-based solution to improve people’s health and well-being, especially for people living in urban areas. Full article

The relationship between natural environments and psychological well-being has gained increasing attention in environmental and health sciences. However, there is still a lack of robust quantitative instruments to assess the restorative potential of different environments. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Portuguese version of the Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS), an instrument based on Attention Restoration Theory that evaluates the perceived restorative qualities of environments. In Study 1, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on data from 410 participants. The results supported a refined 20-item version of the scale, comprising four factors—being away, fascination, compatibility, and legibility—with good internal consistency and acceptable model fit. Measurement invariance analysis confirmed configural, metric, and scalar invariance across gender. In Study 2, a separate sample of 212 participants completed the PRS along with additional validated measures: the Sublime Emotion toward Nature Scale (SEN), an aesthetic evaluation of landscapes, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The PRS showed strong convergent and discriminant validity and significantly predicted restorative outcomes. These findings support the psychometric adequacy of the Portuguese PRS and its relevance as a valid tool for assessing perceived restorativeness in both natural and built environments. The scale may inform future research and public policies aimed at designing spaces that promote psychological restoration and mental well-being. Full article

Background/Objectives: Virtual reality (VR) is becoming an increasingly popular therapeutic tool, with immersion being a key component that provides users with a sense of spatial presence in virtual environments. However, comprehensive research is lacking on the impact of static versus dynamic VR environments on changes in perceived spatial presence. The aim of this study was to assess the experience of spatial presence in virtual environments and to examine the relationship between spatial presence and users’ emotional responses during exposure to static and dynamic VR scenarios. The study also sought to compare the effects of static and dynamic environments on the occurrence of cybersickness symptoms. Methods: The study included 30 participants aged 18 to 26. Each participant was instructed to view two separate films, with each film lasting 20 min (with a 20 min break between them) in virtual reality using Oculus Meta Quest 2 VR goggles, and to share their experiences. Cybersickness was assessed using the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ), emotional responses were evaluated using the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule—Short Form (I-PANAS-SF), and spatial presence was measured with the Spatial Presence Experience Scale (SPES). Results: In the group of participants who viewed the dynamic film, a significant decrease in stress levels was observed after the projection as compared to the baseline resting state (p = 0.002), along with an increase in experienced relaxation (p < 0.001). In contrast, in the group that viewed the static film, no significant changes were found in stress levels (p = 0.464) or experienced relaxation (p = 0.455) when compared to baseline. The dynamic environment had the greatest impact on the occurrence of cybersickness symptoms, with all responses indicating a progressive increase compared to the static condition. The static environment produced only minor disturbances. Conclusions: These findings confirm that virtual environments can influence users’ emotional states, particularly highlighting the relationship between spatial presence and emotional experience. Full article

Shift work is prevalent among healthcare professionals and associated with significant health risks, including stress, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders. Despite known sex differences in stress responses, their impact on shift workers, particularly student pharmacists, is understudied. The objective of this study was to explore sex-specific differences in psychological and physiological stress responses among pharmacy students engaged in shift work. Psychological stress was assessed using validated scales like the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Shift Work Disorder Index (SWDI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Additionally physiological stress was assessed using salivary biomarkers like cortisol, DHEA-S, IL-6, and alpha-amylase. Females reported significantly higher perceived stress (p = 0.0004), SWDI (p = 0.0302), insomnia (p = 0.0111), and negative affect (p = 0.0171) compared to males. Rotating shift workers showed elevated scores across all measures (p = 0.0005–0.0381). Female rotating shift workers exhibited higher alpha-amylases (p = 0.0191) and lower DHEA-S levels (p = 0.0176) than males. Strong correlations emerged between perceived stress and insomnia (r = 0.40, p = 0.0001) and between insomnia and negative affect (r = 0.55, p < 0.0001). Findings highlight females’ vulnerability, underscoring the need for sex-specific interventions and the early identification of stress biomarkers. Full article

Dysregulated dopamine (DA) release in the mesocorticolimbic circuit is noted in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with impulsive and compulsive behaviors (ICBs). However, the effect of acute DA release on mood, the localization of this process, and the phenotypic differences in patients with ICB remain unknown. We applied a placebo-controlled dextro-amphetamine (dAMPH) study in 20 PD patients: 10 with ICBs (PD-ICB) and 10 without (PD-C). Subjective mood experiences were measured with well-described self-reported measures including the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), Drug Effects Questionnaire (DEQ), and Amphetamine Interview Rating Scale (AIRS). D2-like receptor availability was measured as non-displaceable binding potential (BP_ND) using PET imaging with the high-affinity D2/3 receptor ligand [¹⁸F]-fallypride. Among all the subjects, dAMPH increased the PANAS positive, DEQ feel, DEQ high, and AIRS total scores. Increases in the PANAS positive and AIRS total scores were greater in the PD-ICB cohort. A mixed-effects model correlated these questionnaire changes with dAMPH-induced reductions in BP_ND in the ventral striatum (VS), caudate, amygdala, and caudo-medial orbitofrontal cortex. The baseline caudate, VS, and amygdala BP_ND positively correlated with lower on-dAMPH PANAS positive scores. Elevated mood symptoms of acute dAMPH administration in PD are linked to DA release in the mesocorticolimbic regions. Distinctions in behavioral effects among PD-ICB subjects emphasize that dysregulated striatal and extra-striatal DA-ergic networks alter mood responses to stimulated DA release and may also contribute to behavioral changes resulting from DA-targeting therapies in PD. Full article

Background/Objectives: To assess the spatial presence and impact of an immersive virtual reality (VR) walk on symptoms of cybersickness, emotions, and participant engagement, with the aim of providing insights applicable to future therapeutic VR interventions for individuals with limited mobility. Methods: The experiment involved 30 healthy individuals who used VR headsets while seated on chairs to experience a 360° virtual tour of the Venice Canals in Los Angeles. The effect of immersion was evaluated using the Virtual Reality Sickness Questionnaire (VRSQ) to measure cybersickness symptoms, the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Short Form (I-PANAS-SF) to assess emotions, the Spatial Presence Experience Scale (SPES) to evaluate spatial presence, and the Flow State Scale (FSS) to quantify the flow state. Results: The results indicated that the virtual walk elicited both positive and negative reactions. The increase in eye strain (+0.66), general discomfort (+0.6), and headache (+0.43) was achieved in the VRSQ scale. Despite experiencing nausea and oculomotor symptoms, participants reported a high level of flow (range of scale items from 3.47 to 3.70), suggesting a beneficial impact of immersion on their well-being. Furthermore, the analysis of the I-PANAS-SF results revealed a predominance of positive emotions, indicating a favorable perception of the experience. However, the SPES scores exhibited variability in the perception of spatial presence (mean spatial presence score 3.74, SD 2.06), likely influenced by the characteristics of the visual material used. Conclusions: Overall, the immersive VR walk, despite the potential risk of cybersickness symptoms, as a seated passive exploration still promoted feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment, allowing the participants to actively engage with the virtual environment. These findings suggest that seated VR experiences hold promise as a tool for promoting well-being, but further research is needed to address cybersickness and optimize VR content for therapeutic use in populations with limited mobility. Full article

Background/objectives: Chronic stress is a pervasive issue affecting individuals worldwide, with profound implications for mental and physical well-being. Panax ginseng, a widely used herbal supplement renowned for its adaptogenic properties, is hypothesized to alleviate some stress effects. This study aims to evaluate the impact of hydroponically grown Red Panax ginseng root powder with a high level of rare ginsenosides supplementation on perceived stress levels, as well as on the emotional and cognitive abilities of moderately stressed participants. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, controlled study was conducted with 149 participants. They were randomly assigned to either the Ginseng supplementation group (N = 72; 200 mg/day, including 24 mg of ginsenosides) or the Placebo group (N = 77). The intervention lasted for 3 weeks. The perceived stress level was measured at baseline (D0) and at the end of the intervention (D21) using a validated scale (PSS) alongside assessments of emotional (BDI and PANAS) and cognitive abilities (CANTAB subtests). Results: Significantly larger decreases in the PSS and negative affect score (PANAS) were observed following intervention in the Ginseng group compared with the Placebo group. Compared to the Placebo group, participants in the Ginseng group showed faster response latencies during a spatial planning task (OTSC subtest). In addition, there was a marginally larger decrease in the BDI score in the Ginseng group. Conclusions: These results confirm the emotional and cognitive benefits of Red Panax ginseng in moderately stressed adults and pave the way for further exploration of its use as a promising approach to improving psychological well-being. Full article

Introduction: Women experience more social barriers, gender stereotypes, biases, and discrimination than men, which can increase their vulnerability to mental health problems. Therefore, it is essential to adopt a gender perspective in research on nursing students, examining the impact of these factors on their well-being and psychological resources like resilience. This study aims to analyze the relationship between gender roles in resilience and positive or negative affect among female nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with first- and fourth-year female nursing students at a public university in Madrid, Spain. Sociodemographic variables, positive and negative affect (PANAS scale), resilience (CD-RISC scale), and gender roles (BRSI inventory) were analyzed. ANOVA, correlation analysis, and linear regression models were used to study the relationships between variables. Results: The study included 338 students with a mean age of 21.43 years, of which 80.2% had a high level of resilience, with a positive affect score of 31.96 (SD: 7.34) and a negative affect score of 22.99 (SD: 7.35). Overall, 48.5% had undifferentiated roles, 23.7% feminine roles, 14.2% androgynous roles, and 13.6% masculine roles. Female students with masculine and androgynous roles showed higher resilience levels (93.48% and 97.92%) compared to those with feminine and undifferentiated roles (81.25% and 70.73%) (p < 0.001). Female students with androgynous and masculine roles showed higher positive affect levels compared to those with feminine and undifferentiated roles (p < 0.001), with no differences in negative affect. These results were observed in both first- and fourth-year students. A high correlation was found between masculine roles and positive affect and resilience in both first- and fourth-year students. Conclusions: Gender roles influence positive affect and resilience in females. Among female nursing students, androgynous and masculine roles are associated with higher levels of resilience and positive affect compared to feminine and undifferentiated roles. Differences in psychological well-being may be related to socially constructed gender roles rather than biological sex, with masculine roles enhancing resilience and feminine roles correlating with greater vulnerability. Full article

Heat waves are deteriorating the indoor thermal environment of non-air-conditioned buildings, bringing more intensive heat-humid exposures, which poses a great threat to human cognitive performance that is closely related to human safety and health. Previous studies mainly focused on the thermos-physiological aspect, trying to establish predicting models of cognitive performance, but the subjective aspect also needs investigating. In order to explore the relationship between cognitive performance and subjective responses of subjects to hot-humid exposure, a 150-min experiment was conducted in four hot-humid experiments, during which five kinds of cognitive tasks were administered to simulate the sustained mental workload. ‘National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index’ (NASA-TLX) and ‘Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule scale’ (PANAS) were selected to acquire the perceived mental workload and mood before and after these tasks. Thereafter, changes in the perceived workload and mood with air temperature and exposure time were analyzed. The results of cognitive tasks (response time and accuracy) were recorded online automatically, with which the cognitive performance index (CPI) was calculated. The results showed that five items of NASA-TLX, namely mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, effort, and frustration, were negatively related to air temperature (p < 0.05), and they were also observed to have quasi-inverted-U relationships with exposure time. Another item, the performance, was found to have a quasi-U relationship with exposure time. Furthermore, a quasi-inverted-U relationship was observed between the positive mood and exposure time, while a quasi-U relationship between the negative mood and exposure time was detected. Finally, a performance-mood relation was established based on the correlation analysis among the CPI, mood, and mental workload, which produced a linear relation with the R² of 0.71. This study provided references for the self-evaluation of cognitive performances in buildings without air-conditioners, which is important in the circumstance where heat waves appear more. Full article

Objective: Numerous studies have highlighted the prevalence of mental health disorders among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, with varying indications of emotional strain. This study compares the psychological functioning of healthcare workers at the onset of the pandemic and two years later, offering a comprehensive assessment of their emotional and mental health status in the evolving context of COVID-19. Methods: This longitudinal analysis examined the relationship between stress, emotional processing, and their positive/negative impacts on medical personnel working in Polish hospitals and outpatient clinics in 2020 (n = 285) and 2022 (n = 252). The study employed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Mini-COPE, Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS), Emotional Processing Scale (EPS), STAI, and PANAS to assess psychological responses and coping mechanisms. Results: Findings revealed a significant increase in denial, substance use, self-blame, negative mood, and impaired psychological and somatic functioning, alongside heightened symptoms of depression and anxiety. Conversely, a marked decrease in planning, positive reinterpretation, acceptance, religious coping, and seeking social support (both emotional and instrumental) was observed over the two-year period. Conclusion: The prolonged nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the psychological resilience of healthcare professionals, eroding critical emotional resources necessary for maintaining interpersonal relationships and mental well-being. These results underscore the need for targeted interventions to support the mental health of medical staff in the ongoing crisis. Full article

In this study, we present a framework to develop and evaluate a virtual reality exposure therapy system with biofeedback toward scorpion phobia treatment. The system is developed based on the methodology for the development of virtual reality educational environments; usability is evaluated with the System Usability Scale (SUS), the affects are measured with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the biofeedback heart rate is measured in real time using a wearable device and the HypeRate app. A descriptive study was conducted with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of undergraduate students. The non-clinical sample consisted of 51 participants (11 women and 40 men) (mean = 20.75, SD = 2.42 years). The system usability score was 75.49, higher than the average of 68. For positive affects, the average value of the overall sample was 28.18, while for negative affects it was 13.67. The results of this preliminary study, while not determining that the system could currently be applied in clinical settings, demonstrate however that the system can initially be considered as a pre-feasibility study, and if the limitations of the unbalanced non-clinical sample are addressed, it could be used in the future for this purpose. The main contribution is the proposed framework to integrate usability and affects evaluation, as well as biofeedback in a VRET system toward scorpion phobia treatment. Full article

The evaluation of management in peri-urban agricultural and natural areas (PANAs) constitutes a complex topic, particularly when considering its scale in cities where landscape planning is a priority. Therefore, indicators are required to assess the non-material well-being, biodiversity, and quality of life of society, which are criteria of cultural ecosystem services (CESs). This research develops identification and subclassification CESs and tangible and intangible indicators that facilitate the management of the PANA landscape, using the city of Arequipa as a case study—a dynamic cultural city with a declared cultural heritage, in turn located in an artificial oasis in the Atacama Desert. Therefore, the results will enable the selection of indicators that are practically applicable to planning instruments, serving as support systems for decision-making regarding interventions in PANAs. The methodology began with a systematic and meta-analytic (PRISMA) review, identifying 25 articles containing 230 indicators across 19 subclassifications. Using the Multiscale Indicators Framework (MSIF), the literature was integrated with a participatory workshop to validate these findings. The level of impact was assessed for 115 indicators across 13 subclassifications, applying criteria such as diversity, sustainable management, quality of life, and scalability—factors necessary to comply with urban sustainability policies. Full article

Although it has been shown that color can influence mental health and behavior, few studies have discussed the effects of cool and warm colors in classrooms on the perceived emotions of elementary school students. In this study, we investigated the emotional changes of elementary school students in Yinchuan City, Northwest China in classrooms with cool and warm color tones. By using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children (PANAS-C), the emotions of 123 third- to sixth-grade students in classrooms with cool and warm color tones were measured. We found the following conclusions: (1) Overall, the emotional responses of the subjects in both the cool- and warm-colored classrooms showed a tendency for positive emotions to be higher than negative emotions. (2) There was no significant difference between the effects of cool and warm colors on the overall emotion of elementary school students, but there were significant differences in specific emotions; Compared to warm colors, cool colors had a more significant effect on increasing feelings of calm (β = −0.365, p = 0.041). Compared to cool colors, warm colors were more likely to cause participants to feel mad (β = 0.186, p = 0.099). (3) The effects of cool and warm colors on students’ emotions differed significantly by gender and grade level. Cool and warm color tones had a significantly greater positive impact on females. In contrast, cool and warm colors had a more pronounced effect on males’ negative emotions. In addition, we found that grade level was significantly negatively correlated with overall emotion (β = −0.696, p < 0.001), with lower grades perceiving emotion more positively than higher grades. These findings provide important insights into the spatial design of elementary school classrooms and provide valuable comparative data for studies in different regional and cultural contexts, further enriching the empirical support of color psychology theory. Full article

Currently, there is a marked increase in the importance of the environmental and cultural ecosystem services of the forest. Among the social benefits, protection of human health and improvement of human well-being come to the fore. Forests, both reserve and commercial, benefit human health. However, people often have negative attitudes toward forest management activities, especially near urban areas, and prefer forest management that results in a forest that is close to natural. Second-growth forest and clear-cutting are the most visible manifestations of ongoing forest management in forests. The purpose of this study was to compare the benefits derived from exposure to second-growth forest, clear-cutting and mature forest stands. Fifty-five students of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (WULS-SGGW) participated in the study. The study was conducted in October 2023 in a forest within the city of Otwock, within the range of the Warsaw metropolitan area. Participants were exposed for 15 min to selected plots: second- growth forest, clear-cutting area and mature forest stand. Before the experiment (PRE-Test control trial) and after each of the exposures four psychological questionnaires were administered: the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS), the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS) and Profile of Mood States (POMS). The results indicate that not all analyzed features of the forest landscape have a regenerative effect on people. Exposure to a commercial forest, only in the case of a mature stand, yielded the most benefits in terms of mood improvement. In contrast, exposure to clear-cutting area resulted in a decrease in positive feelings and an increase in negative feelings, leading to a complete disturbance of mood, an increase in tension, depression and a decrease in feelings of vigor. Clear-cutting area has significantly worse restorative properties compared to mature forest stands and second-growth forest. This observation is relevant to forest management within city limits and in the suburban zone of large cities. Not only is clear-cutting area not accepted by people visiting forests for recreational purposes, but it leads to a detraction from the health benefits provided by forests. Full article

Background and Objectives: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in interest in the health benefits of contact with nature. The theoretical and practical aspects of this issue are constantly being investigated. It is worth noting, however, that there is a large group of people for whom the only available form of contact with nature can only be through images (the view outside the window, photos and films about nature), recorded sounds of nature or descriptions of nature. Research indicating how much exposure to nature in the dimension of virtual reality achieves improvements in well-being, mood and vitality is therefore urgently needed. Material and Methods: The main goal of the experiment was to examine whether watching a 20-min 2D video of forest environment or reading a textbook on forest knowledge for 20 min would bring any psychological benefits. The order of both exposures was intentionally changed (reversed) for every second participant in this study to reduce the order effect. A group of 16 volunteers, students of Warsaw University of Life Sciences, took part in the experiment. The psychological tests before and after each of the two parts of the experiment (viewing a picture with sound and reading a book) were established using five questionnaires: Profile of Mood State (POMS); Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS); Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS); Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: As a result of the analyses, a 20-min viewing of a 2D video of a forest with natural sounds of nature was shown to have a positive effect on the psychological relaxation of the subjects in the form of an increase in restorativeness and vitality in the participants of the experiment, as well as a greater decrease in negative feelings, tension and anger than when reading a forest-themed book. Watching a video of a landscape can reduce tension and anger levels significantly, which can be an important guideline in relation to the interior design of public spaces and the protection of employees from the adverse effects of psychosocial working conditions, as well as the desire to stabilize anger and maintain emotional stability in everyday life. Full article