The feasibility of a two-day intensive forest therapy incorporating mindfulness practices for natural disaster-affected individuals: a brief report
Yongjun Lee, Yeji Yang, Ji-Eun Pyo, Beom Lee, Changhyou Kim, Jeong-Ho Choi, Kee-Hong Choi
Frontiers in Psychology June 20, 2025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1603924 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 110 |
| Population | Individuals affected by natural disasters, including wildfire or flood survivors and first responders |
| Interventions | Forest therapy Mindfulness practices |
| Duration | Two-day intensive program |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Depression, anxiety, and stress fell significantly from pre- to post-intervention, while vitality and mindfulness rose. Increases in mindfulness significantly moderated the reductions in anxiety, stress, and depression. The authors argue that intensive forest therapy is a viable and promising intervention for disaster-affected populations. |
Abstract
This study investigated the feasibility and psychological benefits of a two-day intensive forest therapy program incorporating mindfulness practices for individuals affected by natural disasters. The sample comprised 110 participants, including those who had either experienced wildfires or floods or served as first responders. The results revealed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress pre- and post-intervention, alongside improvements in vitality and mindfulness. Furthermore, enhanced mindfulness significantly moderated reductions in anxiety, stress, and depression. These findings indicate that intensive forest therapy is a viable and promising intervention for improving the mental health of disaster-affected populations.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- The Applicability of Forest Therapy for Socially Isolated Young Adults: Parallel Changes in Psychological Distress and Mindfulness International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health August 19, 2026
- Effectiveness of Nature-Based Mindfulness Interventions to Improve Mental Health: A Narrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health April 24, 2026