Horticultural Therapy for Improving the Work Performance and Interpersonal Relationships of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

For the occupational adaptation and social integration of the intellectually disabled, it is helpful to improve their work performance and interpersonal skills. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of horticultural therapy (HT) programs to improve work performance and interpersonal relationships of persons with intellectual disabilities. Based on observations and analyses of how people with intellectual disabilities work, we have developed a 12-session HT program that includes upper limb movements and physical activities to improve hand function. We recruited, with the consent of their legal guardians, 14 (6 males, 8 females) participants who had intellectual disabilities and were working at a sheltered workshop in K-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The program consisted of twelve sixty-minute sessions that were conducted twice a week at a rooftop garden. For pre- and post-evaluation of the program, the survey of functional adaptive behavior (SFAB), interpersonal negotiation strategies, a horticultural job evaluation (self), hand function tests (pegboard, pinch gauge, fingertips), and blood sample tests for physiological indicators of exercise were conducted. Interpersonal negotiation strategies, functional adaptive behaviors, and physical abilities for job behaviors, including agility and grasping of the hand, improved significantly from before to after the program (p < 0.05). A positive result of VEGF (vascular endothermic growth factor) in blood sample tests implies the need for further research on cognitive changes caused by horticultural activities. This study has limitations due to the small number of participants, but the results suggest that low- to medium-intensity horticultural treatment programs using the upper body and hands could be effective for vocational rehabilitation of the intellectually disabled.

Psychophysiological and Psychological Responses of Teenage Students Conducting Computer Programming Activities Combined with Horticultural Activities

“…These activities also lead to increased parasympathetic nervous system activity and decreased blood pressure, indicating both psychological and physiological relaxation (Lee et al 2015). In addition, horticultural activities have been linked to improved upper limb and hand functionality (Park et al 2013;Son et al 2022) and enhanced balance perception among rehabilitation patients (Lee 2017).…”

Occupational Concepts: An Underutilized Resource to Further Disabled People and Others Being Occupied: A Scoping Review

“…As to the nine occupational adaptation abstracts, four were relevant. One highlighted missing resources to facilitate occupational adaptation [241]; a second, tools to achieve satisfaction through occupation [242]; a third, an occupational adaptation model as useful [243]; and a fourth argued that "for the occupational adaptation and social integration of the intellectually disabled, it is helpful to improve their work performance and interpersonal skills" [244] (p. 1).…”

Effects of Tactile Stimulation Using an Assortment of Natural Elements on the Psychophysiological Responses of Adults

“…A gardening program for the elderly significantly improved their brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) levels related to cognitive health factors [6]. Following a horticultural therapy program for people with intellectual disabilities, their interpersonal negotiation strategies, functional adaptive behaviors, and physical abilities for job behaviors, including agility and grasping of the hand, improved significantly [7]. As a result of conducting a healing agriculture program for patients with schizophrenia, their negative symptom responses were significantly reduced and positive effects were found upon rehabilitation [8].…”