Effects of Horticultural Activities on Attitudes toward Aging, Sense of Hope and Hand–Eye Coordination in Older Adults in Residential Care Facilities

Hui-Ying Chu, Hui-Shan Chan and Mei-Fang Chen
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Hui-Ying Chu: Department of Living Services Industry, Tainan University of Technology, No. 529, Zhongzheng Rd., Yongkang District, Tainan City 71002, Taiwan
Hui-Shan Chan: Department of Applied Cosmetology, National Tainan Junior College of Nursing, 78 Sec. 2, Minzu Rd., Tainan City 70043, Taiwan
Mei-Fang Chen: Department of Nursing, National Tainan Junior College of Nursing, 78 Sec. 2, Minzu Rd., Tainan City 70043, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-28

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of an 8-week horticultural activity intervention on attitudes toward aging, sense of hope, and hand–eye coordination in 88 older adults in residential care facilities. In the experimental group, the mean score for “attitudes toward aging” increased from 3.81 before the intervention to 4.74 points after the intervention (standard deviation SD = 0.24 and 0.27, respectively), and the control group dropped from 3.75 to 3.70 (standard deviations, respectively SD = 0.27 and 0.28). The mean score for “sense of hope” increased from 3.28 before the intervention to 3.81 points after the intervention (SD = 0.49 and 0.26, respectively). In contrast to the control group, the mean score gradually declined from 3.26 to 3.16 points (standard deviation SD = 0.54 and 0.48, respectively). In the test of hand–eye coordination, the time required to complete the cup stacking test significantly decreased from 33.56 to 25.38 s in the experimental group but did not significantly change in the control group. Generalized estimating equation analysis revealed a significant interaction between group and time ( p < 0.001). The data trends revealed significant differences in outcomes between the experimental group and the control group. At 3 months after the end of the study, the effect size in the experimental group remained higher than that in the control group.

Keywords: horticultural activity; attitudes toward aging; sense of hope; hand–eye coordination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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