title: The influence of personal patterns of behavior on the physiological effects of woodland walking.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effects of forest walking are once again being recognized; however, few studies have investigated individual variations in the effects of forest walking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the current study was to investigate the influence of individual patterns of behavior on the physiological effects of walking through woodland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a crossover, open-label, single-group, self-controlled design.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in the forest on Ikoma Mountain, at the eastern edge of Osaka Prefecture in Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 20 healthy males, selected randomly from a population of members at a nonprofit organization with a mean age of 67.6 y.
  
  
  METHODS
  Moving from the start of a mountain path to an observation platform, participants took a 1000-m walk through the forest. On another day, participants remained in their offices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patterns of personal behavior were assessed preintervention by written questionnaire, identifying type A and type B behavior patterns. Salivary chromogranin A (CgA) levels were determined immediately before and after the walk as well as at 20 min after and 40 min after its end. On the day when participants sat in their offices, control samples were collected at the same times as on the day of the walk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the type B-behavior pattern group, a significant increase in the levels of CgA occurred after the walk. No change was observed in the type A-behavior pattern group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that walking in woodland may bring about positive health benefits, particularly to individuals with type B characteristics.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeshita
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D053379:Chromogranin A / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D065928:Forests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D053379:Chromogranin A