Effects of Paeonia suffruticosa Viewing on Physiology and Psychology of University Students

To scientifically evaluate the influences of Paeonia suffruticosa on human physiological and psychological responses, this research took the quantitative experiment to survey and analyze the participants' physiological (blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation and fingertip pulse) and psychological (profile of mood states and state-trait anxiety inventory) changes between pre- and post-stimulations during the leaf stage, initial bloom stage, full bloom stage and failure bloom stage of Paeonia suffruticosa. The results showed that compared with other periods, the participants exhibited significantly lower blood pressure, heart rate, fingertip pulse and negative emotions (Irritability, Depression, Fatigue; P＜0.050), also significantly improved positive emotions (Vigor; P＜0.05) in the full bloom stage. The female’s physiological indexes were more varied than the male’s, but the male’s psychological indicators were changed than the female's. We thus concluded that the activities of viewing Paeonia suffruticosa could relieve students’ nervous mood, making their body and mind relaxed during the flowering stage. In addition, the female and male participants’ changes of psychological and physiological states were different. This study is the first to explore the rehabilitation of Paeonia suffruticosa at different phenological stages. It has guiding significance for the construction of peony rehabilitative landscape.