Mental Health
Category: Mental health
Title: The Multi-Sites Trial on the Effects of Therapeutic Gardening on Mental Health and Well-Being (2022)
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19138046
Summary: A program of 30 sessions was conducted in Korea, from June – Nov 2021, with 111 participants. All participants were experiencing mild depression/anxiety and more than half had a mental disorder. The following were measured: depression, anxiety, daily activities, quality of life and mindfulness. All 5 variables improved significantly over time.
Category: Children, mental health
Title: A haven of green space: learning from a pilot pre-post evaluation of a school-based social and therapeutic horticulture intervention with children (2018)
Link: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5661-9
Summary: A study in North West England of school children, aged 9-15, with ‘behavioural, emotional and social difficulties’ examined the effect of monthly therapeutic horticulture sessions over 6 months. Whilst the school reported better mental well-being, within questionnaires the 36 children self-reported worsening well-being. These results perhaps reflect the children completing their feedback on the last day of school. Despite challenges with the study design, this study provides examples of data collection methods suitable for children.
Category: Children, cognitive health, mental health, physical health, therapeutic design
Title: Nature as a healer for autistic children (2019)
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2018.10.014
Summary: This paper focuses on investigating the potential health and well-being advantages of engaging children with autism in nature. Guidelines for a sensory garden are provided, along with exploration of cognitive, mental and physical benefits of connecting with nature. Practical design elements are examined, along with a sight plan to demonstrate these principles in practice.
Category: Older Adults, physical health, mental health
Title: Reduced stress and improved physical functional ability in elderly with mental health problems following a horticultural therapy program (2018)
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.03.011
Summary: This study investigates the effects of 10 horticultural therapy sessions on 14 older adults’ physical and mental health. Results found improved fitness and lower stress compared to the control group. The study design provides examples of self-reported fitness questionnaires.
Category: Mental Health
Title: Effects of Horticultural Activities on Mild to Moderate Depression Symptoms:
A Randomized Controlled Trial (2023)
Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/ijpcp.28.4.4340.1
Summary: Adults with mild or moderate depression symptoms undertook weekly 3-hour sessions of horticultural therapy over 6 weeks with depression measured with a questionnaire. After the intervention, depression improved for the horticultural therapy group compared to the control group.
Category: Mental Health
Title: The Multi-Sites Trial on the Effects of Therapeutic Gardening on Mental Health and Well-Being (2022)
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19138046
Summary: Conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study examined the effects of a 30 week horticultural programme across 10 different sites. All mental health areas improved following the programme, including symptoms of depression and anxiety, participant engagement in daily activity, their quality of life and their reported mindfulness. Older adults experienced greater improvements in depression than other age groups.
Category: Cognitive Health, mental health
Title: A Lower Connection to Nature is Related to Lower Mental Health Benefits from Nature Contact (2024)
Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-56968-5
Summary: A cross sectional online survey in Australia involving 2084 participants, looking time spent in greenspaces, connection to nature and levels of stress, anxiety and depression. The results show that visiting greenspace links with lower stress anxiety and depression and that this is moderated by how connected to nature a person is. They also found a potential underlying factor for this may be that individuals with a strong connection to nature are more conscious of nature.
Category: Mental health
Title: Effectiveness of Horticultural Therapy in People with Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2021)
Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/3/964
Summary: This review of 23 studies, totalling 2024 people, aimed to assess how effective horticultural therapy is for people with schizophrenia. Specific focus was on improving symptoms, rehabilitation outcomes, quality of life, and social functioning. It also looked at whether the therapy works better in hospital settings or non-hospital settings. A positive effect of horticultural therapy for people with schizophrenia was found. It also found that therapy in non-hospital settings was more effective across all measures compared to hospital settings.