Development and Effectiveness of an Agro-Healing Program Utilizing Rural Resources to Relieve Stress in Adults

Kyoung-Hee Park and Sin-Ae Park ()
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Kyoung-Hee Park: Department of Environmental Science, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
Sin-Ae Park: Department of Bio and Healing Convergence, Graduate School, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to develop an agro-healing program using rural resources for stressed adults and to measure its effectiveness. A one-day agro-healing program was developed using the resources of a care farm located in Cheongju, South Korea. A total of 37 adults in their 20s to 50s who were experiencing mild or more severe stress participated in the agro-healing program. Analysis of stress-related psychological and emotional indicators of the agro-healing program revealed that post-treatment stress, anxiety, and depression indicators of the healing program significantly decreased ( p < 0.05). Furthermore, mood state, vitality, and resilience indicators increased significantly, which demonstrated effectiveness in improving the mental health of participants with mental health issues. A Pearson correlation analysis between each psychological and emotional variable after the program found that stress had a significant correlation with all variables. Subjective vitality had a full mediating effect on the relationship between stress and resilience. Finally, the one-day agro-healing program was found to help relieve symptoms in adults with stress.

Keywords: care farming; sustainability of agriculture; plant-mediated activities; animal-assisted activities; mediated effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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