Table 1_Stress recovery and restorative effects of viewing different types of peony garden landscapes: a preliminary experiment.docx

This study explored the restorative effects of peony garden scenes with different topographic characteristics on students’ physical and mental health using virtual reality (VR) and the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).</p>Methods<p>Participants (N = 56 per group, 23 ± 1.5 years old) were exposed to flatland peony garden (FPG), terraced peony garden (TPG), mountainous peony garden (MPG), or indoor environment (IE).

Physiological factors were examined using heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and electroencephalogram (EEG). psychological evaluation was carried out using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Perceived Restorativeness Scale (PRS) was used to assess subjective perceived recovery.</p>Results<p>Results showed that: (1) After TSST, HR, LF/HF, and Beta significantly increased (p < 0.01), while R-R, HF, and Alpha decreased (p < 0.01); (2) Compared to the stress stage, viewing FPG, TPG, and MPG led to significant physiological changes (p < 0.05), increased positive emotion (V-A, p < 0.01), and decreased negative emotions (A-H, F-I, T-A, C-B, D-D, anxiety, p < 0.01); (3) Perceived recovery was associated with emotional states, reflected in greater feelings of “being away” and “fascination.” The most pronounced changes occurred in the MPG.</p>Conclusion<p>In the current VR experiment, peony garden landscapes, especially those with abundant landscape elements and visual experience, exhibited therapeutic potential for short-term stress recovery compared with the windowless indoor office scene.