RESEARCH

Comparison of the Effects of Individual and Group Horticulture Interventions

This study found that group horticultural therapy was more effective than individual therapy or simply gardening alone in improving quality of life, emotional intelligence, mental health, and reducing stress levels in university students. The synergistic effect of interacting with people and plants makes group horticultural therapy an effective intervention.

Program Types: Therapeutic, Social, Vocational

Population Groups: Older Adults/Seniors, Mental Health Challenges/Trauma, Rehabilitation, General Population

Setting or Context: Assisted Living/Long-Term Care Homes, Hospitals/Clinics, Rehabilitation Centers, Community Gardens, Residential Programs

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Greater Sense of Purpose, Improved Stress Management, Improved Cognitive Function, Improved Physical Health, Increased Social Engagement & Skills, Decreased Need for Pain Medication

Allied Profession Intersections: Occupational Therapy, Behavioral Therapy

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Indoor Plant Care, Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening, Vocational Skill Development, Environmental Education, Forest/Natural Area Immersion, Mindfulness/Visualizations

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Case Studies, Observational Research, Quantitative Research

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

Access: Free

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Summary

This study wanted to know if doing horticultural therapy (HT) in a group is better than doing it alone for reducing stress. They divided university students into three groups: one group did HT together, one did it individually, and a control group just got a gardening kit. The HT involved weekly sessions with lessons and hands-on gardening activities, plus some gardening at home. The researchers measured things like the students’ quality of life, emotional intelligence, mental health, mood, and stress levels (using saliva samples) before and after the program.

The study found that the group HT group improved more in their quality of life, emotional intelligence, and mental health compared to both the individual HT and the control groups. The group HT also lowered their stress hormone (cortisol) levels more than the others. This suggests that doing HT with others is better for improving mental well-being and reducing stress than doing it alone, possibly because of the social interaction and sense of community that group gardening provides.