RESEARCH

The Multi-Sites Trial on the Effects of Therapeutic Gardening on Mental Health and Well-Being

Across the 276 participants, the mean score for depressive symptoms significantly decreased from 18.2 at baseline to 9.55 at post-test (p=0.0014). Similarly, the mean score for anxiety symptoms significantly decreased from 16.2 at baseline to 8.98 at post-test (p=0.0033).

Program Types: Therapeutic, Social

Population Groups: Older Adults/Seniors, Dementia/Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injuries, Mental Health Challenges/Trauma, General Population

Setting or Context: Assisted Living/Long-Term Care Homes, Schools/Educational Settings, Hospitals/Clinics, Community Gardens

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Greater Sense of Purpose, Improved Stress Management, Improved Cognitive Function, Improved Physical Health, Improved Sleep Quality, Longevity & Aging Well

Allied Profession Intersections: Occupational Therapy

Type of Activity: Indoor Plant Care, Outdoor Gardening

Evidence Type: Meta-Analyses/Systematic Reviews

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

Access: Free

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Summary

This study, a multi-site trial conducted in Korea from June to November 2021, investigated the effects of a therapeutic gardening program on the mental health and well-being of individuals experiencing psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers used a longitudinal and prospective design to evaluate the program, which involved 276 Korean participants from vulnerable populations, including those with mild-to-moderate depression or anxiety, the elderly, and students with intellectual disabilities. The intervention consisted of 30 therapeutic gardening sessions over 15 weeks, each lasting around 3 hours and primarily involving gardening activities conducted outdoors. Mental health variables like depression, anxiety, engagement in daily activity, quality of life (QoL), and mindfulness were assessed using self-report questionnaires at baseline and at the end of the program. The analysis included calculating effect sizes (Cohen’s d) and using multilevel modeling to determine longitudinal effects, as well as moderation analysis to examine differences based on gender, age, and the presence of mental disorders.

The study found that the therapeutic gardening program significantly improved all five measured mental health and well-being variables over time, with mean scores for depression and anxiety decreasing and those for daily activity, QoL, and mindfulness increasing. The effect sizes for depression (d=0.84) and anxiety (d=0.72) were large and medium, respectively. Moderation analyses revealed that the benefits for depression were significant only for female participants and that the decrease in depression was steeper for older adults compared to younger adults. Participants without mental disorders showed steeper improvements in QoL and decreases in depression compared to those with mental disorders. The authors suggest that therapeutic gardening is a promising nature-based intervention, particularly during public health crises like the pandemic, but note limitations such as the lack of a control group and follow-up assessments.

Link

Yang, Y., Ro, E., Lee, TJ. et al. (2022). The multi-sites trial on the effects of therapeutic gardening on mental health and well-being. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19(13), 8046

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