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Research ArticleArticles

Tree-Assisted Therapy: Therapeutic and Societal Benefits from Purpose-Specific Technical Recreational Tree-Climbing Programs

John Gathright, Yozo Yamada and Miyako Morita
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) July 2008, 34 (4) 222-229; DOI: https://doi.org/10.48044/jauf.2008.030
John Gathright
John Gathright (corresponding author), Nagoya University, Tree Assisted Therapy, 323-4 jyokoji cho seto 480 1201, Japan,
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Yozo Yamada
Yozo Yamada, Nagoya University, Bio Agricultural Science, 323-4 jyokoji cho seto 480 1201, Japan
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Miyako Morita
Miyako Morito, Nagoya University, Psychology, 323-4 jyokoji cho seto 480 1201, Japan
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  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
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Article Figures & Data

Figures

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  • Figure 1.
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    Figure 1.

    Mean age of each group.

  • Figure 2.
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    Figure 2.

    Differences in tension–anxiety from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

  • Figure 3.
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    Figure 3.

    Differences in anger–hate from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

  • Figure 4.
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    Figure 4.

    Differences in fatigue from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

  • Figure 5.
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    Figure 5.

    Differences in confusion from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

  • Figure 6.
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    Figure 6.

    Differences in vitality from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

  • Figure 7.
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    Figure 7.

    Differences in affinity for forests from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

  • Figure 8.
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    Figure 8.

    Differences in willingness to try new forest activities from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

  • Figure 9.
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    Figure 9.

    Differences in perception of trees as friends from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

  • Figure 10.
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    Figure 10.

    Differences in perception that trees are important from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

  • Figure 11.
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    Figure 11.

    Differences in willingness to help forests from before and after programs. Statistical significance by the unpaired t-test **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.

Tables

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    Table 1.

    Tree-climbing program design elements.

    ElementsTCTAT
    “Break the ice” self-introduction gameX◯
    Low-impact root protection by collecting leavesX◯
    Self-introduction◯X
    5 min “act like a tree” stretchX◯
    5 min stretch◯X
    Demonstration◯◯
    Forest appreciationX◯
    “Breathe like a tree”X◯
    Touch and Hug The Tree◯◯
    Free tree-climbing◯X
    Treetop Relax TimeX◯
    Climb down◯◯
    “Tree and People” picture presentationX◯
    • TC = tree-climbing; TAT = tree-assisted therapy.

    • View popup
    Table 2.

    Subject groups.

    GroupNumberSpeciesGenderCourse
    KMTT26KonaraMaleTree-assisted therapy
    KMTC27KonaraMaleTree-climbing
    KFTT26KonaraFemaleTree-assisted therapy
    KFTC27KonaraFemaleTree-climbing
    HMTT26HinokiMaleTree-assisted therapy
    HMTC26HinokiMaleTree-climbing
    HFTT25HinokiFemaleTree-assisted therapy
    HFTC25HinokiFemaleTree-climbing
    • View popup
    Table 3.

    P values of three factors variance analysis of POMS differences between before and after the program.

    FactorsTension/AngerDepressionAnger/HateVitalityFatigueConfusion
    Konara–Hinoki0.00112.27E–080.00040.00010.11010.0635
    Therapy–tree-climbing1.80E–050.00020.00532.40E–050.00115.12E–10
    Male–female0.00444.02E–050.00090.02650.02370.0610
    • Italic bold type is 1% significant.

    • Italic type is 5% significant.

    • POMS = Profile of Mood States.

    • View popup
    Table 4.

    P values of factor variance analysis of five differences from before and after programs.

    FactorsLike forestsTry act. forestTree friendTree importHelp forest
    Konara–Hinoki0.12180.76080.01410.51660.7531
    Therapy–tree-climbing7.09E–093.03E–056.42E–099.96E–181.02E–18
    Male–female0.01030.00422.59E–090.03592.31E–07
    • Italic bold type is 1% significant.

    • Italic type is 5% significant.

    • View popup
    Table 5.

    P values of factor variance analysis of seven perceptions from after programs.

    FactorsTC funTC scaryTC pleasantTC satisfactionTC relaxTC stressTC acomp
    Konara–Hinoki0.00181.93E–050.01660.41200.72190.25010.2071
    Therapy–tree-climbing9.82EE–072.08E–092.60EE–133.97EE–102.61EE–116.46E–101.34EE–05
    Male–female0.05230.08150.71480.02950.00010.00110.0002
    • Italic bold type is 1% significant.

    • Italic type is 5% significant.

    • TC = tree-climbing; acomp = accomplishment.

    • View popup
    Table 6.

    Spearman correlation coefficients between affinity for forests and perceptions of programs.

    GroupVisit forestsTry act. forestsTC funTC scaryTC pleasantTC satisfactionTC relaxTC stressTC acomp
    KMTT0.87320.87210.6838−0.62940.75150.50210.4073−0.56620.6455
    KMTC0.59070.9217−0.45160.44290.4520
    KFTT0.67780.72800.3948−0.4842
    KFTC0.67160.85910.51620.4042
    HMTT0.61830.6577
    HMTC0.60390.6333
    HFTT0.87320.87210.6838−0.62940.75150.50210.4073−0.56620.6455
    HFTC0.79020.88290.41430.4282−0.4412
    • Italic bold type is 1% significant.

    • Italic type is 5% significant.

    • TC = tree-climbing; acomp = accomplishment.

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Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF): 34 (4)
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF)
Vol. 34, Issue 4
July 2008
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Tree-Assisted Therapy: Therapeutic and Societal Benefits from Purpose-Specific Technical Recreational Tree-Climbing Programs
John Gathright, Yozo Yamada, Miyako Morita
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jul 2008, 34 (4) 222-229; DOI: 10.48044/jauf.2008.030

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Tree-Assisted Therapy: Therapeutic and Societal Benefits from Purpose-Specific Technical Recreational Tree-Climbing Programs
John Gathright, Yozo Yamada, Miyako Morita
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jul 2008, 34 (4) 222-229; DOI: 10.48044/jauf.2008.030
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Keywords

  • Community forests
  • environmental psychology
  • mood states
  • outdoor recreation
  • societal benefits
  • tree-assisted therapy
  • tree-climbing
  • urban forests

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