5. Conclusions
DISEASES
The ANKER-study, with its forest classification survey, provides for the first time a method for a more valid comparison of forest therapy interventions. The long-term results of this study showed that healthy, highly functioning women and men with sedentary lifestyles benefit mentally from contact with nature. The gender-specific effect of mountain hiking on women is most visible in physiological parameters. Further research should investigate forest therapy as a health-promoting intervention for individuals with immobility or internal diseases. Advanced gender-specific research, especially with regard to these interventions on women, is also recommended. Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the nature-based intervention presented could offer a multimodal contribution to maintaining or creating a more active lifestyle, further contact with nature that affects people’s physical as well as mental health, and an improvement in social interaction. Overall, focus should be on high quality research to make these types of nature-based therapies more applicable and prescribable for a working-adult population.