RESEARCH

THE INFLUENCE OF THERAPEUTIC HORTICULTURE ACTIVITIES ON QUALITY OF LIFE (QoL) ISSUES

All participants (100%) reported enjoying working outdoors during the therapeutic horticulture activities. Over 96.3% of the 27 respondents indicated a desire to attend public gardening activities regularly in the future.

Program Types: Therapeutic, Social

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

Setting or Context: Schools/Educational Settings, Urban vs. Rural Settings, Natural Areas/Parks/Forest

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Greater Sense of Purpose, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Stress Management, Sensory Stimulation, Increased Social Engagement & Skills, Increased Horticultural Knowledge, Increased Self-Efficacy

Allied Profession Intersections: Occupational Therapy

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening, Plant Propagation

Evidence Type: Meta-Analyses/Systematic Reviews

Access: Free

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Summary

This experimental study, detailed in “Art92.pdf”, aimed to analyze the influence of gardening activities on Quality of Life (QoL) issues, including physiological, safety, social, esteem, and self-actualization statements. Conducted among randomly selected volunteer subjects at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the research involved 27 participants (4 men, 23 women) aged 19 to 32, who had pre-test scores indicating mild to moderate or moderate to severe depression. Participants engaged in therapeutic horticulture sessions for different durations: 3 days, 10 days, or 6 weeks, involving activities like seeding, planting, weeding, and pruning. The study employed a post-test survey, adapted from a 24-question version (Waliczek et al., 1996) to a 15-statement form with Yes/No answers, designed based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Maslow, 1943; Desmet & Fokkinga, 2020) to interpret the influence of the activities. The context for the study includes the increasing disconnect from nature due to urbanization and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the role of gardens as refuges.

The results showed largely positive perceptions among participants regarding the influence of therapeutic horticulture on QoL. Across various categories evaluated by the survey, volunteers reported positive experiences, including enjoyment of working outside and in the soil, identifying gardening with nature, feeling safe in the green space, and appreciating the aesthetic and therapeutic aspects. Social benefits were also reported, such as enjoying meeting and helping others, though a significant portion also enjoyed working alone. Participants felt pride in their work and a sense of accomplishment, contributing to self-esteem. The sessions were widely perceived as offering a chance to relax. Correlation analysis suggested a significant positive influence of gardening activities on volunteer well-being, particularly for women across different session durations, although correlations for men and between genders were less significant or negative in some cases. Overall, the findings support that therapeutic horticulture is a positive activity that can enhance well-being and address depression symptoms, even in the context of public health crises.

Link

Buru, T., Buta, E., & Cantor, M. (2022). The influence of therapeutic horticulture activities on quality of life (QOL) issues. Scientific Papers. Series B. Horticulture, 66(1)

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