RESEARCH

Assessing Emotional and Social Health Using Photographs: An Innovative Research Method for Rural Studies and its Applicability in a Care-Farming Program for Youth

The SHAPE method successfully evaluated a rural care-farming program, showing that participants displayed predominantly positive emotions (e.g., happiness, confidence) and increased engagement over time, especially with horses. This approach offers a reliable way to assess emotional and social health in hard-to-reach populations, even in resource-limited settings.

Program Types: Social

Population Groups: Children/Youth, Mental Health Challenges/Trauma

Setting or Context: Farms

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Social Engagement & Skills

Allied Profession Intersections: Social Work

Type of Activity: Outdoor Gardening

Evidence Type: Case Studies, Qualitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes, Program Effectiveness

Access: Paid

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Summary

This paper introduces the Socio-Emotional Health Analysis of Photographic Expressions (SHAPE) method, an innovative way to evaluate emotional and social health using photographs. The method was tested in a rural care-farming program for at-risk youth, where participants engaged in gardening and equine-assisted activities. By analyzing photographs taken during the program, researchers assessed changes in participants’ emotions, interactions, and engagement. The findings showed that most participants displayed positive emotions, such as happiness and confidence, particularly when interacting with horses or gardening. The SHAPE method proved to be a reliable and practical tool for evaluating programs in rural or resource-limited settings, especially for populations with limited literacy or verbal communication skills.

The study also highlighted the benefits of rural care-farming programs for disengaged youth. Participants demonstrated increased confidence and engagement over time, particularly with equine activities. The shift from initial fascination to confidence with horses suggested growth in self-efficacy. The SHAPE method provided valuable insights into individual experiences and outcomes while addressing challenges in traditional evaluation methods. The authors recommend SHAPE as a complementary or standalone tool for assessing emotional and social health in similar programs.

Link

Norwood, MF., Lakhani, A., Maujean, A. et al. (2019). Assessing emotional and social health using photographs: An innovative research method for rural studies and its applicability in a care-farming program for youth. Eval Program Plann., 77, 101707

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