RESEARCH

Foliage Plants Improve Concentration and Emotional Condition of Elementary School Students Performing an Intensive Assignment

The study found that boys who worked near foliage plants increased their task accuracy from 36% to 52.7% and solved an average of 8.2 questions, compared to 5.7 without plants. Brain activity also showed a significant increase in attention-related markers (SEF50) and a reduction in theta waves, which are linked to lower concentration, when plants were present.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Children/Youth, Students

Setting or Context: Schools/Educational Settings

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Improved Cognitive Function

Allied Profession Intersections: Education

Type of Activity: Indoor Plant Care

Evidence Type: Randomized Controlled Trials, Quantitative Research

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

Access: Free

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Summary

This study looked at whether having real plants in a room could help elementary school students focus better and feel more relaxed while doing a challenging math assignment. Thirty students between the ages of 10 and 13 were asked to complete short math tasks both with and without plants present in the room. While the students worked, researchers used a special headset to monitor their brain activity and also asked how they felt afterward. The goal was to see if simply having plants nearby could change how students performed and felt during schoolwork.

The study found that male students focused better and felt calmer when they did their assignments in the presence of plants. Their brain activity showed higher attention levels and they also solved more problems correctly when plants were nearby. Students also reported feeling more relaxed in the environment with plants, although this emotional benefit wasn’t as strong among female students. Overall, the presence of plants made the classroom feel more comfortable and improved task performance for some students.

Link

Kim, S.O., Oh, Y.A., & Park, S.A. (2020). Foliage plants improve concentration and emotional condition of elementary school students performing an intensive assignment. HortScience, 55(3), 378-385

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