Changes in cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels immediately after urban park visits

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.

本研究旨在探索非受控条件下，短期造访城市公园后即刻出现的生理与心理变化。六十名公园访客完成了一份用于评估其主观幸福感（Subjective Well-Being，SWB）的简短问卷，并分别在公园游览前后即刻捐献唾液样本。此外，参与者佩戴计步器以追踪其在公园游览期间的身体活动水平。研究结果表明，所有生物标志物（皮质醇[cortisol]、脱氢表雄酮[dehydroepiandrosterone，DHEA]及皮质醇/脱氢表雄酮比值）的水平在公园造访后均有所下降，而主观幸福感评分则显著升高。公园造访时长被确定为与皮质醇水平降低显著相关的关键变量，且公园造访后主观幸福感评分的变化与皮质醇水平的变化存在显著关联。21.8分钟的公园造访时长具备预测能力，可有效区分出公园造访后皮质醇水平出现下降的访客与未出现该变化的群体。