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

Yeji Yang, Eunbin Ro, Taek-Joo Lee, Byung-Chul An, Kwang-Pyo Hong, Ho-Jun Yun, Eun-Yeong Park, Hye-Ryeong Cho, Suk-Young Yun, Miok Park, Young-Jo Yun, Ai-Ran Lee, Jeong-Ill Jeon, Songhie Jung, Tai-Hyeon Ahn, Hye-Young Jin, Kyung Ju Lee and Kee-Hong Choi
Additional contact information
Yeji Yang: School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Eunbin Ro: School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Taek-Joo Lee: Hantaek Botanical Garden, Yongin 17183, Korea
Byung-Chul An: Division of Forest & Landscape Architecture, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea
Kwang-Pyo Hong: Korea Institute of Garden Design, Seoul 07995, Korea
Ho-Jun Yun: Landscape Yeoleum, Seoul 04026, Korea
Eun-Yeong Park: Department of Environmental Landscape Architecture, Joongbu University, Geumsan 32713, Korea
Hye-Ryeong Cho: Seoul Green Trust, Seoul 04766, Korea
Suk-Young Yun: Department of Landscape Architecture, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea
Miok Park: Department of Smart Green City Industry Convergence, Korea Nazarene University, Cheonan 31172, Korea
Young-Jo Yun: Department of Ecological Landscape Architecture Design, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
Ai-Ran Lee: Department of Human Environment Design, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28503, Korea
Jeong-Ill Jeon: Shingu Botanic Garden, Shingu College, Seongnam 13443, Korea
Songhie Jung: Gardens and Education Research Division, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 11186, Korea
Tai-Hyeon Ahn: Gardens and Education Research Division, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 11186, Korea
Hye-Young Jin: Gardens and Education Research Division, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 11186, Korea
Kyung Ju Lee: Integrative Obstetrics & Gynecology, Institute for Occupational & Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Kee-Hong Choi: School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-13

Abstract: Although many people affected by COVID-19 suffer from some form of psychological distress, access to proper treatment or psychosocial interventions has been limited. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of a therapeutic gardening program conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program consisted of 30 sessions and was conducted at 10 nationwide sites in Korea from June to November 2021. Mental health and well-being were assessed using the Mental Health Screening Tool for Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Screening Tool for Anxiety Disorders, Engagement in Daily Activity Scale, brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Cohen’s d value was calculated for the effect size, and a multilevel analysis was used to determine the longitudinal effects of therapeutic gardening. The effect sizes for depression, anxiety, daily activities, quality of life, and mindfulness were 0.84, 0.72, 0.61, 0.64, and 0.40, respectively. Multilevel analyses showed that all five mental health variables improved significantly over time as the therapeutic gardening program progressed. Therapeutic gardening is promising and applicable as a nature-based intervention to improve the mental health of individuals experiencing psychological distress especially in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: gardening; nature-based intervention; psychosocial intervention; mental health; well-being; public health; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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