산림환경에서의 맨발 걷기와 신발착용 걷기 운동이 중년여성의 코르티솔 수치와 수면의 질에 미치는 효과
The Effects of Barefoot Walking and Shod Walking in a Forest Environment on Cortisol Levels and Sleep Quality in Middle-Aged Women
1
조회
0
다운로드
0
인용
0
참고문헌
키워드
초록
This study examined the effects of barefoot walking and shoe-wearing walking in a forest environment on cortisol levels and sleep quality among middle-aged women. A quasi-experimental design with repeated measures, including a pretest–posttest control group, was applied to 26 participants. Interaction effects between group and time were analyzed to assess the intervention’s impact. The results indicated that cortisol levels showed significant interaction effects between group and time, with barefoot walking producing a greater reduction in cortisol compared to walking with shoes. Similarly, sleep quality demonstrated a significant group-by-time interaction, showing greater improvement in the barefoot walking group. However, no significant correlation was found between the changes in cortisol levels and sleep quality. In conclusion, barefoot walking in a forest environment was found to be an effective intervention for alleviating stress and improving sleep quality in middle-aged women. The combined effects of plantar sensory stimulation and natural environmental factors appeared to attenuate the hyperactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, stabilize cortisol rhythms, and promote both psychological relaxation and physiological recovery.
Abstract
This study examined the effects of barefoot walking and shoe-wearing walking in a forest environment on cortisol levels and sleep quality among middle-aged women. A quasi-experimental design with repeated measures, including a pretest–posttest control group, was applied to 26 participants. Interaction effects between group and time were analyzed to assess the intervention’s impact. The results indicated that cortisol levels showed significant interaction effects between group and time, with barefoot walking producing a greater reduction in cortisol compared to walking with shoes. Similarly, sleep quality demonstrated a significant group-by-time interaction, showing greater improvement in the barefoot walking group. However, no significant correlation was found between the changes in cortisol levels and sleep quality. In conclusion, barefoot walking in a forest environment was found to be an effective intervention for alleviating stress and improving sleep quality in middle-aged women. The combined effects of plantar sensory stimulation and natural environmental factors appeared to attenuate the hyperactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, stabilize cortisol rhythms, and promote both psychological relaxation and physiological recovery.