Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing): A Scoping Review of the Global Research on the Effects of Spending Time in Nature

Amber L Vermeesch; Alexis Ellsworth-Kopkowski; Jenifer G Prather; Cheryl Passel; Heidi Honegger Rogers; Margaret M Hansen

doi:10.1177/27536130241231258

Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing): A Scoping Review of the Global Research on the Effects of Spending Time in Nature

Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2024 Feb 27:13:27536130241231258. doi: 10.1177/27536130241231258. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Amber L Vermeesch¹, Alexis Ellsworth-Kopkowski², Jenifer G Prather³, Cheryl Passel⁴, Heidi Honegger Rogers⁵, Margaret M Hansen⁶

Affiliations

¹ Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration Coordinator, UNC Greensboro School of Nursing, Greensboro, NC, USA.
² Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
³ College of Nursing, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
⁴ University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Green Bay, USA.
⁵ College of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
⁶ College of Nursing, Seattle University, Seattle, WA, USA.

Abstract

Background: This Scoping review (ScR) builds upon the 2017 review conducted by Hansen et al which contributed to evidence base shinrin-yoku (SY), also known as forest bathing (FB), has many positive health effects and is becoming a prescribed dose (specific time spent in nature) by health care providers. Practice and research regarding SY, has been historically based in Asian countries with a recent increase in Europe. The need and call for more research worldwide continues to further the evidence of SY as a health promotion modality. Through this ScR the authors identified programmatic components, health information monitored and screened, time spent in nature, geographical regions, trends, and themes in SY research worldwide.

Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines we searched across 7 electronic databases for SY or FB research articles from 2017 through 2022. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, ScienceDirect, SCOPUS, Embase, JSTOR were included due to the interdisciplinary nature of SY or FB research. Each database provided unique strengths ensuring a capture of a wide range of articles. The resulting articles were screened and extracted through Covidence.

Results: Database searches returned 241 results, with 110 references removed during the deduplication process, 131 were initially screened in the title and abstract review stage. Resulting in 82 unique results deemed relevant and screened in full text. During the final stage of the review, 63 articles met all inclusion criteria and were extracted for data.

Conclusions: The practice of SY has physiological (PHYS) and psychological (PSYCH) benefits across age groups. Research findings indicate either the natural or the virtual environment (VW) has significant health benefits. Continued research is encouraged globally for short- and long-term health outcomes for all individuals. The connection with nature benefits the mind, body and soul and is supported by Henry David Thoreau's philosophy: "Our livesneed the relief of where the pine flourishes and the jay still scream."

Keywords: forest bathing; forest therapy; health benefits of nature; nature therapy; scoping review; shinrin-yoku.