The effect of horticultural therapy on older adults in pension institutions: a systematic review.

AIMS: To systematically evaluate the effect of horticultural therapy (HT) on older adults in pension institutions. DESIGN: Systematic review was conducted based on the checklist for PRISMA. METHODS: The searches were conducted in the Cochrane library, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), and the China Network Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), from their inception until May 2022. In addition, manual screening of references of relevant studies was performed to identify potential studies. We conducted a review of quantitative studies published in Chinese or English. Experimental studies were evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Scale. RESULTS: A total of 21 studies involving 1214 participants were included in this review, and the quality of the literature was good. Sixteen studies were Structured HT. The effects of HT were significant in terms of physical, physiological, and psychological aspects. In addition, HT improved satisfaction, quality of life, cognition, and social relationships, and no negative events were found. CONCLUSION: As an affordable non-pharmacological intervention with a wide range of effects, horticultural therapy is suitable for older adults in pension institutions and is worth promoting in pension institutions, communities, homes, hospitals, and other institutions that require long-term care.

The Connection between Gardening and Outdoor Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Perceptions of Hope, Hopelessness, and Levels of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

During the past few years, Americans have experienced a wide variety of stressors, including political tensions, racial/civil unrest, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. All of these have led to uncertainty within society. Chronic feelings of helplessness can lead to depression or feelings of hopelessness in those who perceive their situation as unchanging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impacts of gardening and outdoor activities during the COVID-19 pandemic on perceptions of hope, hopelessness, and levels of depression, stress, and anxiety. Participants of this study were recruited through online social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram;458 participants completed the 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale inventory as well as the Hope Scale. Our data indicated that individuals who self-reported themselves as gardeners had significantly more positive scores related to levels of stress, anxiety, and depression and a sense of hope. Furthermore, gardeners had lower levels of self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress when compared with those who did not identify themselves as gardeners. The gardeners also had a more positive outlook regarding hope for the future. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between the number of hours spent participating in gardening and a sense of hope, and a negative correlation was found between the number of hours gardening and stress levels. Similarly, there was a significant negative correlation between the number of hours spent participating in any outdoor activity and self-reported levels of stress, anxiety, or depression;however, there was a positive correlation between the number of hours spent participating in any outdoor activity and a sense of hope. Our data suggested that more hours spent outside gardening or participating in recreational activities led to less perceived stress, anxiety, and depression and greater levels of hope for the future. © 2023, American Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved.

The influence of therapeutic horticulture activities on quality of life (QoL)) issues

It can be stated that during the last two years, the access and activities involvement in nature, public green areas or gardens were reduced or even suppressed by the crisis caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. However, in many countries' gardens were used in global public health crisis as a refuge to find peace of mind, pleasure, respite or relief. Therapeutic horticulture activities as gardening and people-plant interaction can offer them a meaningful time-spending outside. Several research studies indicates that this type of activities can increase people well-being and can reduce fatigue, attention disorder, anxiety, chronic stress or depression, and these long-term effects are frequently identified after an infection with coronavirus. The aim of present research was to analyse the influence of gardening activities in Quality-of-Life Issues like physiological, safety, social, esteem and self-actualization statements. In this regard, a questionnaire has been adapted including 15 statements to which respondents had to choose an answer from two possible options (affirmative or negative answer). The experimental study was conducted based on 27 people, who were involved in gardening activities for 3 days, 10 days or 6 weeks, depending on the group to which they belonged. The results indicated that all participants 'enjoyed working outside', most of them (96.3%) identified that 'gardening is working with nature'. Even if 25 people stated that 'the green area is a good place to meet people', not everyone enjoyed working in group, because 63.0% of the said that they 'enjoyed working alone'. Regarding the conducted gardening activities during the three study trials, most of them (96.3%) 'wish to have the opportunity to attend regularly public horticultural therapy activities (gardening)'.

Design of Virtual Reality Scenes on Horticultural Therapy Treatment

The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders has increased dramatically in the last two years due to the global COVID-19 epidemic, which leads to a shortage of traditional mental health care resources. To address these issues, we propose to use the digital, immersive, and private features of virtual reality technology to assist in the treatment of mental illness. We designed and completed a garden scene for virtual reality horticultural therapy based on the basic principles of traditional horticultural therapy. In order to study the effectiveness of the gardening scenario, we recruited 30 subjects to explore the effectiveness of mood regulation. A survey of a PANAS scale was conducted before and after the garden scene, and a user experience scale was presented to the subjects after the experiment. The ANOVA results showed that there were significant differences between anxious, distressed and self-loathing before and after the experiment. This demonstrates that virtual reality horticulture therapy has a mood-improving effect. In future works, we will improve the design of VR gardening scenarios and conduct more in-depth research on virtual reality horticulture therapy. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Pilot Study of Virtual Delivery of Multimodal Complementary Integrated Health (CIH) Intervention for Suicide Prevention

Methods: This was a program evaluation study at a large urban VA medical center, where clinician-referred Veterans participated in virtual delivery of CIH interventions e.g. mindfulness and meditation, Yoga, horticultural therapy, nutritional education, etc delivered via cohort design. Using validated clinical assessment instruments reduction in severities of depression, PTSD symptoms, pain, and sleep disturbance, and improvements in stress and coping skills were measured to evaluate program effectiveness. Results: Data was collected from 66 participants (26 females and 40 males) across 7 cohorts. However, data is presented for 34 participants with available pre-post data for all clinical assessments. Among these 34 participants, 30% had a prior history of suicide ideation or attempt. We found statistically significant reduction in depression and PTSD severity across all Veteran participants. In Veteran participants with prior history of suicide ideation or attempt, improvements in stress and coping skills were also detected. Background: CIH interventions are promising therapies in suicide prevention, critical in transitioning vulnerable veterans into mental health care who do not consistently engage in mental health services, often citing stigma as a barrier. In previous work, we have shown that in-person programming of CIH interventions resulted in significant improvement in suicidal ideation and associated mental health risk factors, with high veteran engagement. In this pilot program evaluation driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, we investigated whether the virtual delivery of this multimodal CIH intervention was similarly effective. Conclusion: The virtual delivery of the CIH interventions resulted in significant improvement in mental health symptoms. These findings underscore the importance and utility of CIH interventions in suicide prevention efforts to improve overall wellness and broaden access to care in at-risk populations experiencing health disparities.

Virtual therapeutic horticulture – A social wellness program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Background: underlying medical conditions, the challenges of mask-wearing, and social distancing are among the reasons that many adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) are at heightened risk of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper outlines findings from a pilot program, which aimed to assess the feasibility of delivering a therapeutic horticulture program via a virtual platform with adults with I/DD, and to assess if virtual programming can meet social wellness goals for the I/DD population. Program: 39 adults aged 24-74 who were enrolled in a local day habilitation program in Maryland and Northern Virginia participated in the virtual program. Groups contained participants with similar level of function. Participants joined a virtual class once a week for 60 min for 16 weeks. The class was led by a registered horticultural therapist and a horticultural therapy intern. Classes were multi-sensory and explored horticulture themes through gardening, floral design, art, music, dance, poetry and cooking demonstrations. Once a month the participants received a kit to complete a hands-on activity. Semi-structured interviews, which were visually supported by emoticons, were used to evaluate the program. Transcripts were analyzed. Conclusion: Participants were actively engaged and responded positively to the program. A virtual platform is a feasible method of delivery for a therapeutic horticulture program and may provide an opportunity for enhanced social wellness for adults with I/DD. Implications: Many different modalities can successfully be utilized via a virtual platform including, gardening, floral design, art, music, dance, poetry and cooking. Virtual programming can be used effectively for the I/DD community, which may widen the reach of many services in the future. © 2021 International Society for Horticultural Science. All rights reserved.

Attention and Emotional States during Horticultural Activities of Adults in 20s Using Electroencephalography: A Pilot Study

Since indoor, sedentary lifestyles became prevalent in society, humans have lost a sustainable connection to nature. An intervention utilizing outdoor horticultural activities could address such a challenge, but their beneficial effects on the brain and emotions have not been characterized in a quantitative approach. We aimed to investigate brain activity and emotional changes in adults in their 20s during horticultural activity to confirm feasibility of horticultural activity to improve cognitive and emotional states. Sixty university students participated in 11 outdoor horticultural activities at 2-min intervals. We measured brain waves of participants’ prefrontal cortex using a wireless electroencephalography device while performing horticultural activities. Between activities, we evaluated emotional states of participants using questionnaires. Results showed that each horticultural activity showed promotion of brain activity and emotional changes at varying degrees. The participants during physically intensive horticultural activities—digging, raking, and pruning—showed the highest attention level. For emotional states, the participants showed the highest fatigue, tension, and vigor during digging and raking. Plant-based activities—harvesting and transplanting plants—made participants feel natural and relaxed the most. Therefore, this pilot study confirmed the possibility of horticultural activity as a short-term physical intervention to improve attention levels and emotional stability in adults.

Southwest Harvest for Health: An Adapted Mentored Vegetable Gardening Intervention for Cancer Survivors.

Harvest for Health is a home-based vegetable gardening intervention that pairs cancer survivors with Master Gardeners from the Cooperative Extension System. Initially developed and tested in Alabama, the program was adapted for the different climate, growing conditions, and population in New Mexico. This paper chronicles the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of "Southwest Harvest for Health". During the nine-month single-arm trial, 30 cancer survivor-Master Gardener dyads worked together to establish and maintain three seasonal gardens. Primary outcomes were accrual, retention, and satisfaction. Secondary outcomes were vegetable and fruit (V and F) intake, physical activity, and quality of life. Recruitment was diverse and robust, with 30 survivors of various cancers, aged 50-83, roughly one-third minority, and two-thirds females enrolled in just 60 days. Despite challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, retention to the nine-month study was 100%, 93% reported "good-to-excellent" satisfaction, and 87% "would do it again." A median increase of 1.2 servings of V and F/day was documented. The adapted home-based vegetable gardening program was feasible, well-received, and resulted in increased V and F consumption among adult cancer survivors. Future studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this program and to inform strategies to increase the successful implementation and further dissemination of this intervention.