1. Changes in cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels immediately after urban park visits
- Author
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Jie Gao, Gibran C. Mancus, Hon K. Yuen, James H. Watson, Menesha L. Lake, and Gavin R. Jenkins
- Subjects
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,General Medicine ,Pollution - Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore physiological and psychological changes immediately after a short-term visit to urban parks in an uncontrolled condition. Sixty park visitors completed a short questionnaire evaluating their subjective well-being (SWB) and donated a saliva sample immediately before and after their park visit. In addition, participants wore a pedometer to track their physical activity level during the park visit. Results indicated the levels of all biomarkers (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], and cortisol/DHEA ratio) decreased while SWB scores increased after the park visit. The duration of park visit was identified as a key variable significantly associated with cortisol reduction, and changes in SWB scores after the park visit were significantly associated with changes in cortisol level. A park visit duration of 21.8 min has the predictive ability to discriminate park visitors who exhibit reductions in cortisol levels after the park visit from those who do not.
- Published
- 2021
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