RESEARCH

How Outdoor Horticultural Activities Affect Elderly Adults’ Thermal, Physiological and Psychological Responses: A Field Study

After horticultural activities, participants’ neutral comfort temperature dropped by up to 4°C, meaning they could tolerate warmer weather more easily (e.g., from 22.18°C to 18.53°C during flower arranging)​. Emotional improvements were also strong—positive mood scores rose by 4.83 points after flower arranging, while negative mood scores dropped across all activities, supporting the mental health benefits of nature-based engagement​.
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Summary

This study looked at how outdoor gardening activities affect older adults’ body temperature, heart health, and emotions during hot summer days. A total of 162 healthy seniors in Xi’an, China, participated in three types of activities—flower arranging, transplanting, and rubble masonry—in different park settings. Researchers measured their body responses like heart rate, blood oxygen, and core temperature, as well as how comfortable they felt and their emotional states before and after each activity. The goal was to see how gardening impacts physical comfort and mental well-being, and whether these activities helped older people tolerate heat better.

The study found that after doing gardening activities, the seniors felt less sensitive to heat, meaning their bodies adjusted better to the outdoor environment. Emotional well-being improved too—participants reported more positive emotions and fewer negative ones, especially after flower arranging. Physically, changes in blood pressure were small, but heart rate and oxygen levels improved during the more active rubble masonry task. The research showed that outdoor gardening can be a simple and enjoyable way to help older adults feel better both mentally and physically.

Link

Du, M., Wang, Y., Zhang, Y. et al. (2024). How outdoor horticultural activities affect elderly adults’ thermal, physiological and psychological responses: A field study. International Journal of Biometeorology, 1-14

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