{
  "abstract": "Background: Arterial hypertension (AH) is the leading modifiable cardiovascular risk factor, yet pharmacotherapy adherence remains suboptimal. ESH guidelines recommend adjunctive lifestyle interventions including stress reduction, but evidence for mindfulness- and nature-based approaches in older hypertensive populations is limited. Within the University of Rijeka project No. uniri-iskusni-biomed-23-181, we evaluated a mindfulness-based living course (MBLC) and guided forest bath (Shinrin-yoku, SY) among older women with treated AH in Rijeka, Croatia.\n\nMethods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study enrolled 63 women aged ≥60 with diagnosed AH: MBLC (n = 21, 8 weekly workshops), SY (n = 20, 3 guided forest sessions) and a comparison group (n = 22, usual care). Outcomes at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1) included perceived stress (PSS-10), chronic disease self-efficacy (SEMCD-6), HRQoL (EQ-5D-5L, EQ-VAS), blood pressure, and serum cortisol. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with LSD correction was used; groups were balanced at baseline.\n\nResults: Mean age was 73.3 years. A significant time×group interaction emerged for perceived stress (p = 0.002, η²=0.185): SY reduced PSS-10 (16.4→13.9, p = 0.002) while comparison did not. Both interventions improved self-assessed health (EQ-VAS: MBLC p = 0.022; SY p = 0.005; interaction p = 0.006, η²=0.157) and reduced cortisol (MBLC p = 0.016; SY p = 0.006; time effect p = 0.002, η²=0.158), with no change in the comparison group. SY also improved self-efficacy (p = 0.008) and diastolic BP (p = 0.019). No significant effects were found for systolic BP or heart rate.\n\nConclusions: Forest bath showed the most consistent short-term improvements across psychological, subjective health, and physiological outcomes. Both interventions reduced cortisol and improved self-assessed health, supporting non-pharmacological, person-centred approaches in AH management for older women. Larger randomised trials with longer follow-up are needed.\n\nKey messages: • Forest bathing reduced stress, self-efficacy, and diastolic BP in older hypertensive women.\n\n• Mind-body interventions complement pharmacotherapy and suit community-based hypertension care.",
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  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "V Vasiljev"
    },
    {
      "name": "D Juraga"
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    {
      "name": "D Roviš"
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    {
      "name": "M Marinović Glavić"
    },
    {
      "name": "L Bilajac"
    },
    {
      "name": "Z Trobonjača"
    },
    {
      "name": "T Rukavina"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8mzavcgvrhwv1.bib",
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  "doi": "10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1185",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13699251/",
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  "issns": [
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  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1185",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
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  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
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  "native_subjects": [
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  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13699251/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13699251",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": "Oxford University Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8mzavcgvrhwv1.ris",
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      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:54Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13699251",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1185"
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      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:47Z",
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      "origin": "openalex:3203|Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
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  "title": "Mindfulness and forest bath for arterial hypertension in older women: quasi-experimental pilot",
  "title_text": "Mindfulness and forest bath for arterial hypertension in older women: quasi-experimental pilot",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:35:52Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8mzavcgvrhwv1",
  "venue": "The European Journal of Public Health",
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