A Prospective Study of Existential Issues in Therapeutic Horticulture for Clinical Depression

Abstract

Two studies with single-group design (Study 1 N = 18, Study 2 N = 28) addressed whether horticultural activities ameliorate depression severity and existential issues. Measures were obtained before and after a 12-week therapeutic horticulture program and at 3-month follow-up. In both studies, depression severity declined significantly during the intervention and remained low at the follow-up. In both studies the existential outcomes did not change significantly; however, the change that did occur during the intervention correlated (rho > .43) with change in depression severity. Participants' open-ended accounts described the therapeutic horticulture experience as meaningful and influential for their view of life.

Mental health rehabilitation in a care farm context: A descriptive review of Norwegian intervention studies

“…When compared to participants' pre-intervention measurements, this decline was still present and significant in a three-month follow-up assessment. Improvements in anxiety levels, positive affect, and perceived stress levels between the beginning and end of the intervention were all statistically significant [40]. Perceived attentional capacity increased significantly and perceived rumination decreased significantly during the intervention.…”

“…The results of the studies by Gonzalez et al [38,40] show a statistically significant decline in depression levels during the therapeutic horticulture intervention, with the most significant change occurring after four weeks. When compared to participants' pre-intervention measurements, this decline was still present and significant in a three-month follow-up assessment.…”

“…In the open-ended questions given at the end of the program, themes like excitement about and absorption in the growth process during the season were articulated. A vast majority of the participants agreed with statements regarding existential experiences of therapeutic horticulture: it was seen as a meaningful activity, gave a sense of taking care of nature, and changed their view of life [40].…”

“…Gonzalez et al [37][38][39][40] have carried out two singlegroup design studies of the possible benefits to people with clinical depression of participating in a horticultural activities on four urban farms. Both aimed to examine changes in depression and perceived attentional capacity.…”

Gardening for Therapeutic People-Plant Interactions during Long-Duration Space Missions

“…However, a growing number of quantitative studies involving diverse populations and a host of different gardening and horticultural activities have, in general, reported improvements in mental health status of study subjects (Clatworthy et al, 2013). More specifically, studies have reported reductions in anxiety (Lee et al, 2004;Kam and Siu, 2010;Gonzalez et al, 2011b), depression (Gonzalez et al, 2011a;Wilson and Christensen, 2011), negative mood state (Wichrowski et al, 2005;Kam and Siu, 2010;Van Den Berg and Custers, 2011), and perceived stress (Kam and Siu, 2010;Yun and Choi, 2010;Kotozaki et al 2015). As foreseen by Kaplan in her seminal study (1973), interactions with or immersion in nature and natural areas can similarly lead to reductions in anxiety, depression, mood state disorders, and perceived stress, as well as improvements in self-esteem, directed attention, and cognition (Berman et al, 2008;Annerstedt and Wahrborg, 2011;Coon et al, 2011;Keniger et al, 2013).…”