RESEARCH

Gardening is Beneficial for Health: A Meta-Analysis

This meta analysis combined the results of 22 previous studies and found strong evidence that gardening has a positive impact on health, leading to improvements in mental well-being and physical health indicators. The meta-analysis suggests that regular gardening can be considered a beneficial activity for improving public health.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Older Adults/Seniors, Children/Youth, Dementia/Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injuries, Mental Health Challenges/Trauma, General Population

Setting or Context: Community Gardens, Homes/Private Residences

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Greater Sense of Purpose, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Stress Management, Improved Cognitive Function, Improved Physical Health

Type of Activity: Indoor Plant Care, Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Meta-Analyses/Systematic Reviews, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Metrics for Physical Health, Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

Print Form

Summary

This meta-analysis looked at all the scientific research done up to January 2016 to see if gardening truly benefits people’s health. The researchers gathered 22 studies that compared the health of people who garden (or started gardening) with those who don’t. These studies came from different parts of the world, mostly the United States and Europe, and looked at various aspects of health, like how happy and relaxed people felt, as well as things like their weight and blood pressure. The researchers then used a statistical method called meta-analysis to combine the results of these individual studies and get a better overall picture of the effects of gardening on health.

The combined results of all the studies showed that gardening has a significant positive impact on health. Specifically, the researchers found that gardening was linked to reductions in feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress, as well as a lower body mass index. At the same time, gardening was associated with increases in people’s satisfaction with life, their overall quality of life, and their sense of connection to the community. Even after considering the possibility that studies showing no benefit might not have been published (publication bias), the positive effects of gardening on health remained. The researchers concluded that regular gardening can be a way to improve public health.

Link

Masashi Soga, Kevin J. Gaston, Yuichi Yamaura, Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis, Preventive Medicine Reports, Volume 5, 2017, Pages 92-99, ISSN 2211-3355

Notes/Suggestions

S. Ghanbari, F. Jafari, N. Bagheri, S. Neamtolahi, R. Shayanpour
Study of the effect of using purposeful activity (gardening) on depression of female resident in Golestan Dormitory of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences
J. Rehabil. Sci. Res., 2 (2015), pp. 8-11

C.M. Gigliotti, S.E. Jarrott
Effects of horticulture therapy on engagement and affect
Can. J. Aging, 24 (2005), pp. 367-377

C.M. Gigliotti, S.E. Jarrott, J. Yorgason
Harvesting health effects of three types of horticultural therapy activities for persons with dementia
Dementia, 3 (2004), pp. 161-180

M.T. Gonzalez, T. Hartig, G.G. Patil, E.W. Martinsen, M. Kirkevold
Therapeutic horticulture in clinical depression: a prospective study of active components
J. Adv. Nurs., 66 (2010), pp. 2002-2013

M.T. Gonzalez, T. Hartig, G.G. Patil, E.W. Martinsen, M. Kirkevold
A prospective study of existential issues in therapeutic horticulture for clinical depression
Issues Ment. Health Nurs., 32 (2011), pp. 73-81

M.T. Gonzalez, T. Hartig, G.G. Patil, E.W. Martinsen, M. Kirkevold
A prospective study of group cohesiveness in therapeutic horticulture for clinical depression
Int. J. Ment. Health Nurs., 20 (2011), pp. 119-129

N. Hayashi, T. Wada, H. Hirai, et al.
The effects of horticultural activity in a community garden on mood changes
Environ. Control. Biol., 46 (2008), pp. 233-240

M.C. Kam, A.M. Siu
Evaluation of a horticultural activity programme for persons with psychiatric illness
Hong Kong J. Occup. Ther., 20 (2010), pp. 80-86

B.Y. Kim, S.A. Park, J.E. Song, K.C. Son
Horticultural therapy program for the improvement of attention and sociality in children with intellectual disabilities
HortTechnology, 22 (2012), pp. 320-324

Y. Kotozaki
Horticultural therapy as a measure for recovery support of regional community in the disaster area: a preliminary experiment for forty five women who living certain region in the coastal area of Miyagi Prefecture
Int. J. Emerg. Ment. Health, 16 (2014), pp. 114-116

S. Min, Y.J. Ha, J.H. Kang, H.Y. Kang
The effects of horticultural therapy on the well-being and hope of women in rural Korea
J. Nurs. Care, 3 (2014), p. 2167-1168

S.A. Park, C.A. Shoemaker, M.D. Haub
Physical and psychological health conditions of older adults classified as gardeners or nongardeners
Hortscience, 44 (2009), pp. 206-210

S. Rodiek
Influence of an outdoor garden on mood and stress in older persons
J. Ther. Hortic., 13 (2002), pp. 13-21

A.J. Sommerfeld, T.M. Waliczek, J.M. Zajicek
Growing minds: evaluating the effect of gardening on quality of life and physical activity level of older adults
HortTechnology, 20 (2010), pp. 705-710

A.E. van den Berg, M.H. Custers
Gardening promotes neuroendocrine and affective restoration from stress
J. Health Psychol., 16 (2011), pp. 3-11

T.M. Waliczek, J.M. Zajicek, R.D. Lineberger
The influence of gardening activities on consumer perceptions of life satisfaction
Hortscience, 40 (2005), pp. 1360-1365

M. Wichrowski, J. Whiteson, F. Haas, A. Mola, M.J. Rey
Effects of horticultural therapy on mood and heart rate in patients participating in an inpatient cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program
J. Cardiopulm. Rehabil. Prev., 25 (2005), pp. 270-274

J.F. Wilson, K.M. Christensen
The relationship between gardening and depression among individuals with disabilities
J. Ther. Hortic., 21 (2011), pp. 28-41

C.J. Wood, J. Pretty, M. Griffin
A case–control study of the health and well-being benefits of allotment gardening
J. Public Health, 38 (2016), pp. e336-e344

C.D. Zick, K.R. Smith, L. Kowaleski-Jones, C. Uno, B.J. Merrill
Harvesting more than vegetables: the potential weight control benefits of community gardening
Am. J. Public Health, 103 (2013), pp. 1110-1115

Other Recommended Research

‘The nourishing soil of the soul’: The role of horticultural therapy in promoting well-being in community-dwelling people with dementia

Gardening can help people with dementia feel more active, connected, and less lonely by improving their physical and mental well-being. The article highlights the need for more accessible gardening programs in the community to support social engagement and a better quality of life.

‘Into the Wild’: A meta-synthesis of talking therapy in natural outdoor spaces

This Meta-synthesis highlights the benefits of holding therapy sessions in nature, which can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance emotional well-being. While outdoor therapy offers unique advantages, such as greater openness and connection with nature, it also requires careful consideration of client suitability and professional training.

“Connecting people and the earth”: the occupational experience of people with different capabilities participating in an inclusive horticultural social enterprise

This thesis examines how a gardening-based social enterprise helps people of all abilities by providing meaningful work, social connections, and a sense of belonging. While it highlights the benefits of inclusion and community participation, it also points out challenges like funding and governance that need to be addressed for long-term success.