Content uploaded by Iwao Uehara
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Iwao Uehara on Jan 07, 2015
Content may be subject to copyright.
1
Healing effects of urban green environment
UEHARA Iwao (Tokyo University of Agriculture)
Abstract: In the psychological and counseling fields, many studies have been attempted by various methods. This research attempted
to examine the counseling effects utilizing urban green environment which were on the university campus and an urban park in
Setagaya region in Tokyo. I researched how university students’ mood changed in the building and in the outdoor green space on the
campus and also how clients’ conversation changed by regular counseling by walking in the urban park. Both results showed that
participants gained change of air effects by moving to unusual space from ordinary place, improving of their mood, consciousness of
accepting diversity of facing and solving problems, and so forth. These results suggested utilizing urban green environment could have
psychological and counseling effects.
Keywords: psychological effects, counseling, urban green environment, campus, urban park
要旨：これまでに心理・カウンセリング分野においては，様々な手法やアプローチの方法が検討され，その効果につい
ても多角的に研究がなされてきている。本論では，そのカウンセリングの場と形態について着目して，東京都世田谷区
にある東京農業大学周辺の緑地を活用し，①屋内・屋外での学生の気分・心理変化と，②定期的に散策しながら行った
カウンセリングの２つについて調査を行った。その結果，いずれの場合にも，日常の生活空間とは異なる場に移動する
「転地効果」が得られたことをはじめ，気分の向上，多様性の感受などが認められた。これらの結果から，心理的な保
養の一方策として，身近な緑地空間の活用の可能性が示唆された。
キーワード：心理的効果，カウンセリング，緑地，キャンパス，都市公園
Ⅰ. Introduction
In the psychological and counseling fields, many studies
have been attempted by various methods (1). This research
attempted to examine the counseling effects utilizing urban
green environment which were on the university campus and
an urban park.
Ⅱ. Method
(1) On Campus On the campus of Tokyo University of
Agriculture (TUA) in Setagaya region in Tokyo, I researched
the changes of the students’ psychological mood. The
participants were sophomore students of forest science
department of TUA. At first, students estimated their mood in
the class room (Fig.1). This research used the mood estimation
sheet which consisted by 5 categories (Tension, Refresh,
Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety by Sakamoto (1994). Then, they
went out to green space on the campus and stayed there for a
half hour (Fig.1). They also wrote a self –counseling sheet by
free writing. After that, they came back in the classroom, and
estimated their mood again. I analyzed the changes before and
after outdoor spending. This research was done on the 28th of
June 2013. I gained variable estimation by 111 students (76
males, 35 females).
(2) Counseling utilizing urban park At the Baji-Koen Park
near the TUA, I attempted regular counselings with 3 clients
once per month for a half year. All clients were male.
Baji-Koen Park was established in 1940. Its total area is 18 ha
and it contains secondary deciduous woods which used be a
firewood and charcoal woods (Fig.2).
Fig.1 Circumstances of the survey.
(left) Estimating mood in the classroom
(right) Writing self-counseling sheet in the outdoor
Ⅲ. Results and discussion
(1) The changes psychological mood of students on
campus Fig.3 shows the changes of mood estimation of male
students, and Fig.4 shows the changes of female students’
estimation. In each categories, the mood condition improved
after the outdoor green space time than indoor estimation by
both of males and females. Although the standard deviations of
Refresh, Fatigue,
Iwao UEHARA (Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka Setagaya-ku Tokyo 156-8502)
bigrock1964@hotmail
都市部の身近な緑地空間における心理的保養効果の考察
2
Anxiety were big, the significance difference on each
categories were confirmed (p<0.025). Male students’
estimation especially showed Refresh mood improved
and Fatigue mood decreased in the outdoor larger
than females’ estimation.
Fig. 2 Appearance of the Baji-Koen Park
(left) Walking path in the secondary woods for counseling
(right) Wood benches for counseling place
Fig.3. The changes of mood estimation of male
students (n=76)
Fig.4. The changes of mood estimation of female
students (n=35)
Fig.5 shows the comparison of the estimation for self
counseling in the classroom and in the green space on the
campus. Both of male and female students estimated self
counseling in the outdoor green space was better than indoor.
Some students also mentioned that in the indoor environment
presence of near future problems occupy in mind, but in the
outdoor environment calm state, past memories, and
introspection came up in mind.
Fig.5 The comparison of the estimation for self counseling in
the classroom and in the green space on the campus
(2) The results of the counseling utilizing urban park
The following pattern was commonly observed: First,
remembering past matters, then, considering their present,
finally, thinking themselves in the future. Clients mentioned
that urban park environment could ease their tension and
provide the place for considering and expressing their inner
feeling. They also mentioned that the natural environment can
accept many troubles by multiple functions of nature. But they
pointed out that they were bothered by others’ eyes in the park
and some places such as dark, too open, and muddy ground
were uncomfortable.
Ⅳ. Conclusion
The results suggested that moving to outdoor green space
could have the effects of changing mood, accepting diversity,
and noticing inner feeling, and so far. Therefore, urban green
space might have psychological effects and it has possibility for
psychological recuperation and counseling space.
Ⅴ. References
(1) Iwao UEHARA (2008) Effects of Counseling Workshops
Utilizing Familiar Woodland. Proceedings of the 8th
International People-Plant Symposium on Exploring
Therapeutic Powers of Flowers, Greenery and Nature.
pp.283-288.