RESEARCH

Potential of a Small Indoor Plant on the Desk for Reducing Office Workers’ Stress

The study’s results showed that STAI scores, which indicate psychological stress, decreased significantly after the four-week intervention period with plants (P < 0.05). Additionally, the proportion of participants whose pulse rate significantly lowered after a three-minute rest was significantly higher during the intervention period compared to the control period (P = 0.001).

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Burnout/Workplace Stress

Setting or Context: Workplace Environments

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Improved Stress Management

Allied Profession Intersections: Recreational Therapy, Landscape Design

Type of Activity: Indoor Plant Care

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Qualitative Research, Anecdotal Evidence/Testimonials

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

Access: Free

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Summary

This study in Japan investigated whether having a small plant on an office worker’s desk could reduce their stress in a real work environment. Researchers worked with 63 non-managerial employees at an electric company. The study had two main parts: first, a one-week control period where there were no plants on the desks, and then a four-week intervention period where each worker had a small plant that they chose and cared for on their desk. When the employees felt tired, they were asked to take a three-minute rest at their desk.

Throughout the study, the researchers measured the employees’ psychological stress using a standard questionnaire called the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), which was done at the end of the workday at the end of each period. They also measured physiological stress by having the participants take their own pulse rate in the morning and afternoon when they felt fatigued, both before and after a three-minute rest (gazing at their desktop during the control period and at their plant during the intervention period). At the end of the study, the participants also filled out open-ended questionnaires to give feedback about their experiences with the plants.

Link

Toyoda, M., Yokata, Y., Barnes, M., & Kaeko, M. (2019). Potential of a small indoor plant on the desk for reducing office workers’ stress. HortTechnology, 30(1)

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