The Applicability of Forest Therapy for Socially Isolated Young Adults: Parallel Changes in Psychological Distress and Mindfulness

This study examined the applicability of forest therapy in alleviating psychological distress among socially isolated young adults, with a particular focus on their associations with the mindfulness. A total of 159 socially isolated young adults were recruited from the community and participated in a two-day, one-night forest therapy program. Psychological distress (depression, anxiety, loneliness, and stress) and mindfulness were assessed before and after the program. Multilevel analyses were conducted to examine changes in psychological distress and mindfulness following participation, as well as whether the five mindfulness subcomponents (nonreactivity, observing, acting with awareness, describing, and non-judging) were associated with individual differences in changes in these outcomes. The results indicated reductions in depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness, along with an increase in overall mindfulness after the program. Among the mindfulness subcomponents, reductions in psychological distress over time occurred most closely in parallel with changes in nonreactivity, non-judging, and acting with awareness, whereas the parallel was weaker for describing and observing. These findings suggest that forest therapy may be a promising intervention for reducing psychological distress among socially isolated young adults, and that incorporating activities designed to cultivate mindfulness skills—particularly nonreactivity, non-judging, and awareness—could further enhance its mental health benefits. As this study did not include a control group, randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these effects.