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Panțiru I, Ronaldson A, Sima N, Dregan A, Sima R. The impact of gardening on well-being, mental health, and quality of life: an umbrella review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev 2024; 13:45. [PMID: 38287430 PMCID: PMC10823662 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-024-02457-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gardening and horticultural therapy (HT) has been widely recognised as a multicomponent approach that has affected a broad range of health and well-being outcomes. The aim of this umbrella review and meta-analysis was to compare the findings of previous reviews on the impact of multiple gardening interventions and gardening attributes on different well-being constructs. METHODS Electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to December 2022. Interventional and observational reviews were eligible for inclusion in this umbrella review. Outcome measures included mental well-being, health status and quality of life. The key exposure variables were gardening and horticultural therapy. Narrative synthesis was used to evaluate the overall impact of gardening and HT on study outcomes. For a subsample of studies with available quantitative data, a random effect meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS This umbrella review included 40 studies (10 interventional studies, 2 observational studies, and 28 mixed interventional and observational studies). The reviewed studies reported an overall positive impact of gardening activities on several measures of mental well-being, quality of life, and health status. Meta-analysis showed a significant and positive effect of gardening and HT activities on well-being (effect size (ES) 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23, 0.87, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Evidence from observational and interventional studies supports a positive role for gardening and HT activities on well-being and general health. Interventional studies with horticultural-based therapies were effective in improving well-being and quality of life both in the general population and vulnerable subgroups. The high degree of heterogeneity in the included studies cautions against any direct clinical implications of the study findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Panțiru
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
| | - A Ronaldson
- Centre for Implementation Science, Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - N Sima
- Department of Technological Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
| | - A Dregan
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, UK
| | - R Sima
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania.
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Bridi L, Kaki DA, Behnam R, Khan X, Albahsahli B, Bencheikh N, Aljenabi R, Ahmadi N, Dajani R, Al-Rousan T. Attitudes toward dementia and cognitive aging among Syrian refugees resettled in Jordan: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2307. [PMID: 37990313 PMCID: PMC10664261 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17183-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mounting evidence is revealing disparities in cognitive function and heightened dementia risk among refugees, yet research in this area remains scant. Despite bearing most of the world's refugee burden, limited-resource countries like Jordan are facing challenges when dealing with refugee health. There is a lack of research on the attitudes toward dementia and the cognitive healthcare gaps among refugees in Jordan. METHODS 32 older (≥ 55 years) Syrian refugees resettled in Jordan were recruited through a local community-based organization and interviewed in four focus groups (2 female and 2 male groups). Interviews were transcribed and translated, then coded using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS Mean age of the sample was 60.1 years and 53.1% were female. Only 34.4% rated their memory as good or excellent. Themes were organized using the socioecological model: 1) At the individual level, participants believed high levels of stress, including low socioeconomic status, poor health, and traumatic history from their refugee experience increased their dementia risk. 2) Interpersonally, there is a fear of dementia due to the possible impact and burden on loved ones, particularly with the stigma surrounding dementia. 3) At the community level, participants noted that resettlement in Jordan - with a shared language, religion, and culture - offered protective effects due to facilitated access to social connection, information, and mental health self-care. 4) At the institution and policy level, participants believed older refugees faced restrictive policies for economic aid, healthcare, and employment, presenting a significant barrier to healthy aging. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this study are the first to examine the attitudes of Syrian refugees in Jordan toward dementia and cognitive aging. These results could provide essential data inclusive of refugees as Jordan develops its National Dementia Plan. Investing in dementia awareness interventions and age-friendly neighborhoods may benefit aging refugees in limited-resources settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana Bridi
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Dahlia A Kaki
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rawnaq Behnam
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Xara Khan
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- School of Social Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Behnan Albahsahli
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Nissma Bencheikh
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Raghad Aljenabi
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- School of Social Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Nargis Ahmadi
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Rana Dajani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, The Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Tala Al-Rousan
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Gerodetti N, Foster S. Migrant gardeners, health and wellbeing: exploring complexity and ambivalence from a UK perspective. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:daad060. [PMID: 37326405 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daad060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
There has been increasing interest in how green spaces and gardening contribute to people's physical, mental and social wellbeing, and this interest has increased due to COVID-19. This article explores the particular experiences of migrant gardeners and the implications for their health and wellbeing. It draws on a qualitative research project that involved conducting semi-structured interviews with participants with migration heritage in and around a city in the north of England. The participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling; of the 25 participants, some were allotment holders, whilst the rest cultivated crops in their gardens or even on their balcony. Thematic analysis of the interview transcripts generated themes that reflect current definitions of health, encompassing physical, mental and social wellbeing. However, whilst the findings confirm many positive effects of gardening, they also point to some ambivalence in relation to cultivation, outdoor practices and health, with evidence of neutral or even negative effects at times. The article explores the implications of these findings for initiatives to encourage gardening, such as social prescribing, and to address 'green poverty'. An additional finding is that for gardeners with migration heritage, gardening can be understood in terms of cultural wellbeing. Consequently, there is a need to broaden the concept of wellbeing to include this cultural dimension.
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Bevel MS, Tsai MH, Parham A, Andrzejak SE, Jones S, Moore JX. Association of Food Deserts and Food Swamps With Obesity-Related Cancer Mortality in the US. JAMA Oncol 2023:2804691. [PMID: 37140933 PMCID: PMC10160992 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.0634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Importance Obesity-related cancers account for 40% of all cancers in the US. Healthy food consumption is a modifiable factor shown to reduce obesity-related cancer mortality, but residing in areas with less access to grocery stores (food deserts) or higher access to fast food (food swamps) reduces healthy food access and has been understudied. Objective To analyze the association of food deserts and food swamps with obesity-related cancer mortality in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional ecologic study used US Department of Agriculture Food Environment Atlas data from 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2020 and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mortality data from 2010 to 2020. A total of 3038 US counties or county equivalents with complete information on food environment scores and obesity-related cancer mortality data were included. An age-adjusted, generalized, mixed-effects regression model was performed for the association of food desert and food swamp scores with obesity-related cancer mortality rates. Data were analyzed from September 9, 2022, to September 30, 2022. Exposures Food swamp score was calculated as the ratio of fast-food and convenience stores to grocery stores and farmers markets. Higher food swamp and food desert scores (20.0 to ≥58.0) indicated counties with fewer healthy food resources. Main Outcomes and Measures Obesity-related cancer (based on the International Agency for Research on Cancer evidence between obesity and 13 types of cancer) mortality rates were categorized as high (≥71.8 per 100 000 population) vs low (<71.8 per 100 000 population) per county. Results A total of 3038 counties or county equivalents with high obesity-related cancer mortality rates had a higher percentage of non-Hispanic Black residents (3.26% [IQR, 0.47%-26.35%] vs 1.77% [IQR, 0.43%-8.48%]), higher percentage of persons older than 65 years (15.71% [IQR, 13.73%-18.00%] vs 15.40% [IQR, 12.82%-18.09%]), higher poverty rates (19.00% [IQR, 14.20%-23.70%] vs 14.40% [IQR, 11.00%-18.50%]), higher adult obesity rates (33.00% [IQR, 32.00%-35.00%] vs 32.10% [IQR, 29.30%-33.20%]), and higher adult diabetes rates (12.50% [IQR, 11.00%-14.20%] vs 10.70% [IQR, 9.30%-12.40%]) compared with counties or county equivalents with low obesity-related cancer mortality. There was a 77% increased odds of having high obesity-related cancer mortality rates among US counties or county equivalents with high food swamp scores (adjusted odds ratio, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.43-2.19). A positive dose-response relationship among 3 levels of food desert and food swamp scores and obesity-related cancer mortality was also observed. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this cross-sectional ecologic study suggest that policy makers, funding agencies, and community stakeholders should implement sustainable approaches to combating obesity and cancer and establishing access to healthier food, such as creating more walkable neighborhoods and community gardens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm Seth Bevel
- Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Health, Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta
| | - Meng-Han Tsai
- Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Health, Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta
- Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta
| | - April Parham
- Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Health, Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta
| | - Sydney Elizabeth Andrzejak
- Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Health, Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta
| | - Samantha Jones
- Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Health, Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta
- Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta
| | - Justin Xavier Moore
- Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Health, Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta
- Institute of Preventive and Public Health, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta
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Gripper AB. Practices of Care and Relationship-Building: A Qualitative Analysis of Urban Agriculture's Impacts on Black People's Agency and Wellbeing in Philadelphia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4831. [PMID: 36981740 PMCID: PMC10049229 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Gardens and farms provide individuals and communities with access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally significant foods. There is a rich body of literature unpacking the connections between Black urban growing and agency, freedom, resistance, and care. However, spirituality remains one aspect of health and wellbeing that has not been studied extensively in relation to agriculture. The main goal of this study was to conduct focus groups with Philly-based growers to understand the self-determined impacts of urban agriculture on health, agency, and wellbeing. The secondary goal of this work was to determine if these impacts differ by race. I apply a collective agency and community resilience theoretical framework to this study. This framework offers a model to understand agriculture as a way for communities to become self-determined, self-reliant, and self-sustained. For this study exploring the impacts of urban agriculture on health, there were three eligibility criteria. Participants had to be at least 18 years old, identify as Black or White, and have grown food in a garden or farm in Philadelphia. I hosted six race-specific focus groups at Bartram's Garden in Southwest Philadelphia. The audio recordings were transcribed, and the full transcripts were coded using open and axial coding methods and a "key concepts" framework. We also employed several methods of triangulation to help ensure the credibility and validity of the findings. Four major themes emerged from the data: growing as a demonstration of agency and power, growing as a facilitator of body-mind wellness, community care and relationship-building, and deepened spiritual connection and interdependence. There were both similarities and differences in the impacts of urban agriculture by race. Across the six focus groups, people talked about concepts related to community care and relationship-building as being major benefits of growing food. In both groups, people also brought up significant issues and barriers around land security. Mentions of spirituality appeared more frequently and more emphatically in the Black focus groups. Black focus groups were more likely to discuss the collective impacts of agriculture, while White participants were more likely to discuss the impacts on themselves as individuals. The findings of this focus group study point to some key domains through which agriculture impacts the health of farmers and growers in Philadelphia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley B Gripper
- The Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements, and Population Health Equity, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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DeNunzio M, Miller M, Chase M, Kraak V, Serrano E, Misyak S. A Scoping Review of the Community Health Worker Model Used for Food Systems Interventions Within the United States. Am J Health Promot 2023; 37:401-419. [PMID: 36112805 DOI: 10.1177/08901171221125451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To document and analyze the food systems interventions delivered by community health workers (CHW) serving as educators within the United States (U.S.). DATA SOURCE Ten databases (ie, Agricola, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, ERIC, Proquest Social Science and Education, Proquest Theses and Dissertations, PubMed, Scopus, SocIndex, Web of Science) and gray-literature repositories were searched for publications between 2005-2020. STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA English-language and U.S. studies included with CHW as educators or facilitators for food systems interventions. Food systems defined as processes of production, processing, distribution, marketing, access, preparation, consumption, and disposal of food products. Studies excluded for clinical settings; non-adult CHWs; CHWs with medical or public health credentials; and programming guides, reviews, and commentaries. DATA EXTRACTION Variables included CHW and intervention description, priority population, food system processes, and targeted and unexpected outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS Data were analyzed by the lead investigator and described narratively. RESULTS Of 43 records, CHWs educated for consumption (n = 38), preparation (n = 33), and food access (n = 22) to improve health of priority populations. Community health workers educated for the highest number of food system processes in garden-based interventions. Programs reached many underserved racial and socioeconomic populations. CONCLUSIONS The CHW model has been used to educate in interventions for all food systems processes and reached many diverse underserved audiences. Future work must explore garden-based food systems education and CHWs as community change agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria DeNunzio
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, 1757Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Makenzie Miller
- 4366Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Melissa Chase
- Department of Food Science and Technology, 118724Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Vivica Kraak
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, 1757Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Elena Serrano
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, 1757Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Sarah Misyak
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, 1757Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Emmanuel R, Read UM, Grande AJ, Harding S. Acceptability and Feasibility of Community Gardening Interventions for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases among Indigenous Populations: A Scoping Review. Nutrients 2023; 15:791. [PMID: 36771495 PMCID: PMC9921708 DOI: 10.3390/nu15030791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Compared with non-Indigenous populations, Indigenous populations experience worse health across many outcomes, including non-communicable diseases, and they are three times more likely to live in extreme poverty. The objectives were to identify (1) the content, implementation, and duration of the intervention; (2) the evaluation designs used; (3) the outcomes reported; and (4) the enablers and the challenges. Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a search of research databases and grey literature was conducted. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Papers reported on acceptability, nutrition knowledge, fruit and vegetable intake, self-efficacy, motivation, and preference concerning fruit and vegetable, diet, and gardening. No study measured all outcomes. All papers reported on acceptability, whether implicitly or explicitly. The evaluation used mostly pre- and post-intervention assessments. The effect of gardening on nutrition and gardening knowledge and fruit and vegetable intake was inconclusive, and was related to a general lack of robust evaluations. Applying the He Pikinga Waiora Framework, however, revealed strong evidence for community engagement, cultural centeredness, integrated knowledge translation and systems thinking in increasing the acceptability and feasibility of gardening in Indigenous communities. Despite environmental challenges, the evidence signaled that gardening was an acceptable intervention for the Indigenous communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosana Emmanuel
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Ursula M. Read
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Antonio Jose Grande
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
- Department of Medicine, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul—(UEMS), P.O. Box 351, Dourados 79804-970, Brazil
| | - Seeromanie Harding
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
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Litt JS, Alaimo K, Harrall KK, Hamman RF, Hébert JR, Hurley TG, Leiferman JA, Li K, Villalobos A, Coringrato E, Courtney JB, Payton M, Glueck DH. Effects of a community gardening intervention on diet, physical activity, and anthropometry outcomes in the USA (CAPS): an observer-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Planet Health 2023; 7:e23-e32. [PMID: 36608945 PMCID: PMC9936951 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(22)00303-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and social disconnection are important modifiable risk factors for non-communicable and other chronic diseases, which might be alleviated through nature-based community interventions. We tested whether a community gardening intervention could reduce these common health risks in an adult population that is diverse in terms of age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. METHODS In this observer-blind, randomised, controlled trial, we recruited individuals who were on Denver Urban Garden waiting lists for community gardens in Denver and Aurora (CO, USA), aged 18 years or older, and had not gardened in the past 2 years. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1), using a randomised block design in block sizes of two, four, or six, to receive a community garden plot (intervention group) or remain on a waiting list and not garden (control group). Researchers were masked to group allocation. Primary outcomes were diet, physical activity, and anthropometry; secondary outcomes were perceived stress and anxiety. During spring (April to early June, before randomisation; timepoint 1 [T1]), autumn (late August to October; timepoint 2 [T2]), and winter (January to March, after the intervention; timepoint 3 [T3]), participants completed three diet recalls, 7-day accelerometry, surveys, and anthropometry. Analyses were done using the intention-to-treat principle (ie, including all participants randomly assigned to groups, and assessed as randomised). We used mixed models to test time-by-intervention hypotheses at an α level of 0·04, with T2 and T3 intervention effects at an α level of 0·005 (99·5% CI). Due to potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on outcomes, we excluded all participant data collected after Feb 1, 2020. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03089177, and data collection is now complete. FINDINGS Between Jan 1, 2017, and June 15, 2019, 493 adults were screened and 291 completed baseline measures and were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=145) or control (n=146) groups. Mean age was 41·5 years (SD 13·5), 238 (82%) of 291 participants were female, 52 (18%) were male, 99 (34%) identified as Hispanic, and 191 (66%) identified as non-Hispanic. 237 (81%) completed measurements before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. One (<1%) participant in the intervention group had an adverse allergic event in the garden. Significant time-by-intervention effects were observed for fibre intake (p=0·034), with mean between-group difference (intervention minus control) at T2 of 1·41 g per day (99·5% CI -2·09 to 4·92), and for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p=0·012), with mean between-group difference of 5·80 min per day (99·5% CI -4·44 to 16·05). We found no significant time-by-intervention interactions for combined fruit and vegetable intake, Healthy Eating Index (measured using Healthy Eating Index-2010), sedentary time, BMI, and waist circumference (all p>0·04). Difference score models showed greater reductions between T1 and T2 in perceived stress and anxiety among participants in the intervention group than among those in the control group. INTERPRETATION Community gardening can provide a nature-based solution, accessible to a diverse population including new gardeners, to improve wellbeing and important behavioural risk factors for non-communicable and chronic diseases. FUNDING American Cancer Society, University of Colorado Cancer Centre, University of Colorado Boulder, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Michigan AgBioResearch Hatch projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill S Litt
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
| | - Katherine Alaimo
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Kylie K Harrall
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Richard F Hamman
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - James R Hébert
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Thomas G Hurley
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Jenn A Leiferman
- Department of Community and Behavioural Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kaigang Li
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, College of Health and Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Angel Villalobos
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Eva Coringrato
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jimikaye Beck Courtney
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Deborah H Glueck
- Colorado School of Public Health and Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; University of Colorado School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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Taylor DE, Thompson K, Abednour-Brown D, McCoy E, Daupan SM, Hollenquest C. Community Gardens in Michigan: Demographic Attributes of Managers, Neighborhood Characteristics, and the Impacts of a Pandemic. THE AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST 2022:00027642221142204. [PMCID: PMC9755045 DOI: 10.1177/00027642221142204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Community gardens are more popular than ever, yet we know little about how leadership structure and neighborhood characteristics relate to programming. Hence, this paper analyzes how the racial/ethnic backgrounds of the community garden leaders are related to the activities the garden undertakes. What types of initiatives do gardens undertake to reduce food insecurity? The paper analyzes how the location of the garden impacts what it does. The article presents novel findings on the impact of leadership and neighborhood characteristics on community garden operations and outcomes. Hence, the essay examines how the race/ethnicity of garden managers and their sex and neighborhood characteristics, such as poverty rate, household income, and racial composition, are related to garden initiatives. Finally, the paper examines how community gardens responded to increased demands for food and services during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. We studied 53 community gardens in Michigan from the summer 2020 through the winter 2021. Whites manage 66% (35) of the gardens, while People of Color manage 34% (18). Roughly half of the gardens are managed by males and the remainder by females. The gardens, which lack paid staff, rely heavily on volunteers. Almost 53% of the gardens are in low-income census tracts (with median income of $40,000 or less). During the pandemic, 31% of the gardens reduced their staff, 51.4% had fewer volunteers than in pre-pandemic times, and 51.9% had increased amounts of people seeking food.
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Crespo-Bellido M, Takata Y, Jackson J, Grutzmacher S, Smit E. Dietary Quality and Caloric Contribution of the Alternative Food Acquisitions of U.S. Low-income Households: Results from the National Food Acquisition and Purchasing Survey (Foodaps). JOURNAL OF HUNGER & ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2021.1901170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mayra Crespo-Bellido
- Program of Nutrition, School of Biological and Population Health, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Yumie Takata
- Program of Nutrition, School of Biological and Population Health, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Jennifer Jackson
- Program of Nutrition, School of Biological and Population Health, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Stephanie Grutzmacher
- Program of Nutrition, School of Biological and Population Health, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Ellen Smit
- Program of Nutrition, School of Biological and Population Health, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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Asl SR, Azadgar A. The spatial distribution of urban community gardens and their associated socio-economic status in Tehran, Iran. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.949075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban community gardens are a type of green space presenting a diverse role in urban systems. They can also be beneficial for solving the matter of food insecurity by providing self-sufficiency and resilience in low-income communities and increasing the continuity of agricultural activities. Even though plenty of research has been conducted around community gardens, there is a noticeable research gap concerning case studies in different geographic contexts, especially in the Middle East. This paper in response to the said gap aims at mapping the spatial distribution of community gardens and their socio-economic attributes in Tehran, Iran. A methodology consisting of semi-structured interviews, qualitative and descriptive analysis along with tools such as ArcGIS was employed and secondary data were obtained from various sources such as the Tehran statistical yearbook of the year 2020. The results demonstrate that currently there are a total of 26 community gardens in Tehran and they run based on governmental funds and support with a strong educational motive backing them up. There is also an evident geographical distribution imbalance in terms of gardens placement with them mostly being present in the southern part of the city, while in the northern districts the idea of community gardens has almost been nonexistent. Only districts 22, 8, and 7 among northern districts in Tehran have community gardens. In the southern part, district 19 includes the majority of gardens having seven in total. In short, gardens are mainly placed in areas with lower average land prices, median household income, and higher education graduates.
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Hsueh YC, Batchelor R, Liebmann M, Dhanani A, Vaughan L, Fett AK, Mann F, Pitman A. A Systematic Review of Studies Describing the Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Potential Harms of Place-Based Interventions to Address Loneliness and Mental Health Problems. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:4766. [PMID: 35457637 PMCID: PMC9029472 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Given the links between the built environment and loneliness, there is interest in using place-based approaches (addressing built environment characteristics and related socio-spatial factors) in local communities to tackle loneliness and mental health problems. However, few studies have described the effectiveness, acceptability, or potential harms of such interventions. This review aimed to synthesize the literature describing local community-based interventions that target place-based factors to address loneliness and mental health problems, informing the development of future public health approaches. We searched PsycINFO, Medline, and Embase using a structured search strategy to identify English-language studies evaluating the effectiveness, acceptability, and potential harms of place-based community interventions in addressing loneliness and mental health problems, both in general and clinical populations. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, classified as evaluating provision of community facilities (such as clubhouses), active engagement in local green spaces, and housing regeneration. None were randomised trials. Quantitative and qualitative findings suggested promising effects and/or acceptability of six interventions, with minimal potential harms. There is a clear need for randomised trials or quasi-experimental studies of place-based interventions to describe their effectiveness in addressing loneliness and mental health problems, as well as complementary qualitative work investigating acceptability. This will inform future policy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Chia Hsueh
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London (UCL), London W1T 7NF, UK; (Y.-C.H.); (M.L.); (F.M.)
| | | | - Margaux Liebmann
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London (UCL), London W1T 7NF, UK; (Y.-C.H.); (M.L.); (F.M.)
| | - Ashley Dhanani
- Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL), London WC1H 0AY, UK; (A.D.); (L.V.)
| | - Laura Vaughan
- Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL), London WC1H 0AY, UK; (A.D.); (L.V.)
| | - Anne-Kathrin Fett
- Department of Psychology, City, University of London, London EC1V 0HB, UK;
| | - Farhana Mann
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London (UCL), London W1T 7NF, UK; (Y.-C.H.); (M.L.); (F.M.)
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London NW1 0PE, UK
| | - Alexandra Pitman
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London (UCL), London W1T 7NF, UK; (Y.-C.H.); (M.L.); (F.M.)
- Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, London NW1 0PE, UK
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Healthy Communities. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT CLINICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpha.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Sadeghzadeh C, Sheppard B, de Groot J, De Marco M. Evaluating the Benefits of a SNAP-Ed-Funded Community Garden Intervention Using Ripple Effect Mapping. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2021; 49:141-149. [PMID: 34963366 DOI: 10.1177/10901981211058075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In North Carolina, rural communities experience high rates of chronic illness due to health inequities exacerbated by the decline of major industries. Community gardens increase access to fresh produce and opportunities for physical activity and may offer additional benefits. These benefits can be difficult to measure as they are often unplanned or unintended. This article describes how we utilized Ripple Effect Mapping (REM), a participatory approach for evaluating complex interventions, to understand the impact of a SNAP-Ed-funded program. We purposively selected six community gardens to participate in 2-hour, facilitated REM sessions. On average, 15 people participated in each session. Participants developed a map of benefits using Appreciative Inquiry, mind mapping, and consensus-building methods. The map organized benefits across three levels: first ripple (individual), second ripple (interpersonal), and third ripple (community). In addition, participants coded benefits using the Community Capitals Framework. After the sessions, the research team extracted identified impacts into a matrix, aligned them with the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework, and developed digitized maps. These data corroborated findings from previous evaluations and offered insight into community-identified benefits not previously documented, including other types of capital generated by community gardens in rural communities. In addition, REM was an effective approach to measure and report several SNAP-Ed evaluation indicators, including LT11: Unexpected Benefits. Ultimately, the research team found REM to be an effective community-engaged method for understanding a complex intervention's benefits while centering participant community voices and transferring ownership of the data to community partners, a key principle in equitable evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brett Sheppard
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Juliana de Groot
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Molly De Marco
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
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Bikomeye JC, Namin S, Anyanwu C, Rublee CS, Ferschinger J, Leinbach K, Lindquist P, Hoppe A, Hoffman L, Hegarty J, Sperber D, Beyer KMM. Resilience and Equity in a Time of Crises: Investing in Public Urban Greenspace Is Now More Essential Than Ever in the US and Beyond. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:8420. [PMID: 34444169 PMCID: PMC8392137 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The intersecting negative effects of structural racism, COVID-19, climate change, and chronic diseases disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities in the US and around the world. Urban populations of color are concentrated in historically redlined, segregated, disinvested, and marginalized neighborhoods with inadequate quality housing and limited access to resources, including quality greenspaces designed to support natural ecosystems and healthy outdoor activities while mitigating urban environmental challenges such as air pollution, heat island effects, combined sewer overflows and poor water quality. Disinvested urban environments thus contribute to health inequity via physical and social environmental exposures, resulting in disparities across numerous health outcomes, including COVID-19 and chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In this paper, we build off an existing conceptual framework and propose another conceptual framework for the role of greenspace in contributing to resilience and health equity in the US and beyond. We argue that strategic investments in public greenspaces in urban neighborhoods impacted by long term economic disinvestment are critically needed to adapt and build resilience in communities of color, with urgency due to immediate health threats of climate change, COVID-19, and endemic disparities in chronic diseases. We suggest that equity-focused investments in public urban greenspaces are needed to reduce social inequalities, expand economic opportunities with diversity in workforce initiatives, build resilient urban ecosystems, and improve health equity. We recommend key strategies and considerations to guide this investment, drawing upon a robust compilation of scientific literature along with decades of community-based work, using strategic partnerships from multiple efforts in Milwaukee Wisconsin as examples of success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean C. Bikomeye
- Institute for Health & Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (J.C.B.); (S.N.); (C.A.)
| | - Sima Namin
- Institute for Health & Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (J.C.B.); (S.N.); (C.A.)
| | - Chima Anyanwu
- Institute for Health & Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (J.C.B.); (S.N.); (C.A.)
| | - Caitlin S. Rublee
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
| | - Jamie Ferschinger
- Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, Environmental Health & Community Wellness, 1337 S Cesar Chavez Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53204, USA;
| | - Ken Leinbach
- The Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Place, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA;
| | - Patricia Lindquist
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, 101 S. Webster Street, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, USA;
| | - August Hoppe
- The Urban Wood Lab, Hoppe Tree Service, 1813 S. 73rd Street, West Allis, WI 53214, USA;
| | - Lawrence Hoffman
- Department of GIS, Groundwork Milwaukee, 227 West Pleasant Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212, USA;
| | - Justin Hegarty
- Reflo—Sustainable Water Solutions, 1100 S 5th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53204, USA;
| | - Dwayne Sperber
- Wudeward Urban Forest Products, N11W31868 Phyllis Parkway, Delafield, WI 53018, USA;
| | - Kirsten M. M. Beyer
- Institute for Health & Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (J.C.B.); (S.N.); (C.A.)
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Lampert T, Costa J, Santos O, Sousa J, Ribeiro T, Freire E. Evidence on the contribution of community gardens to promote physical and mental health and well-being of non-institutionalized individuals: A systematic review. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255621. [PMID: 34358279 PMCID: PMC8345884 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There has been growing interest in community gardens as an effective and affordable health promotion strategy. However, most available evidence is derived from qualitative studies, whereas quantitative research on this subject is limited. OBJECTIVES To synthetize the literature about physical and mental health outcomes associated with community gardening. Two main questions were addressed: a) is there evidence, from quantitative studies, that community gardening is associated to physical and mental health and well-being of non-institutionalized individuals? b) Does community gardening provokes any discomfort in terms of physical health, i.e., bodily pain, to their beneficiaries? METHODS A systematic review of the literature was carried out following PRISMA guidelines by searching relevant electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Empirical, quantitative studies published in English with no restrictions concerning the date of publication were considered eligible. The quality of the evidence was appraised using the tool developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. RESULTS Overall, 8 studies were considered eligible, of which seven studies were rated as having good methodological quality (one scored as fair). Community gardeners had significantly better health outcomes than their neighbours not engaged in gardening activities in terms of life satisfaction, happiness, general health, mental health, and social cohesion. CONCLUSION Community gardens are associated to health gains for their users, irrespective of age, being an affordable and efficient way of promoting physical and mental health and well-being. To encourage the design, maintenance, and prospective evaluation of supportive urban environments promoting healthy and, at the same time, sustainable lifestyles, is essential to achieve public health gains and environmental sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarsila Lampert
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Costa
- EnviHeB Lab, Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Osvaldo Santos
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- EnviHeB Lab, Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Unbreakable Idea Research, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joana Sousa
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Laboratório de Nutrição, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Elisabete Freire
- Departamento das Ciências Sociais do Território, Faculdade de Arquitectura, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Gillies C, Super S, Te Molder H, de Graaf K, Wagemakers A. Healthy eating strategies for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations: a meta-ethnography. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2021; 16:1942416. [PMID: 34151755 PMCID: PMC8216252 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2021.1942416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: In developed countries, diet-related health inequalities between people with different levels of socioeconomic advantage persist. However, there is limited qualitative evidence to inform the design of effective healthy eating (HE) strategies in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations (SDPs). The purpose of this review was to explore the characteristics influencing HE strategies for SDPs and develop a new understanding of how and why they influence their success. Methods: A qualitative evidence synthesis using a systematic meta-ethnographic approach. The twelve studies included were conducted in the USA, Canada, Australia, and UK. Results: The studies described a range of HE strategies, including nutrition education programs, food vouchers, and community gardens. Personal values and sense of pride and autonomy were found to have an influence on participants’ attitudes towards HE strategies. Similarly, social characteristics such as level of social support and opportunities for shared benefits influenced participants’ engagement. Structural characteristics such as the affordability and accessibility of healthy foods determined strategy acceptability and success. Finally, organizational characteristics such as flexibility influenced how well strategies supported the circumstances of participants. Conclusions: These overlapping characteristics may be used to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies to improve healthy eating in SDPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Gillies
- Strategic Communication Chair Group, Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sabina Super
- Health and Society Chair Group, Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hedwig Te Molder
- Department of Language, Literature, and Communication, Faculty of Humanities, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kees de Graaf
- Human Nutrition & Health Chair Group, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Annemarie Wagemakers
- Health and Society Chair Group, Department of Social Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Benavides H, Meireles CL, Benavente V, Mays MH, Wang J. Decreasing Older Adult COVID-19 Risk Factors Using Digital Technology to Implement a Plant-Based-Diet: An Opinion Paper. JMIR Aging 2021; 4:e25327. [PMID: 34081595 PMCID: PMC8406109 DOI: 10.2196/25327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
UNSTRUCTURED A disproportionate number of COVID-19 cases affect older, minority populations. Obese older adults are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 complications and lower survival rates; minority older adults often experience higher rates of obesity. A plant-based diet intervention may improve COVID-19 obesity modifiable risk factors. Encouraging the consumption plant-based diets consisting of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts utilizing community outreach strategies and digital technology can contribute to improving COVID-19 risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Benavides
- UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, US
| | | | - Viola Benavente
- UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, US
| | | | - Jing Wang
- UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, US
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Tharrey M, Darmon N. Urban collective garden participation and health: a systematic literature review of potential benefits for free-living adults. Nutr Rev 2021; 80:6-21. [PMID: 33997887 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuaa147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT Collective gardens are increasingly considered a tool to promote health and well-being. OBJECTIVE In this systematic review, we critically appraise quantitative studies exploring the potential health benefits of urban collective garden participation. DATA SOURCES Articles published between January 2000 and August 2020 were used. DATA EXTRACTION All original research studies reporting at least 1 health outcomes associated with urban collective gardening in free-living adults from Western and other high-income countries were included. Of 1261 articles identified, 15 were included in the systematic review. Methodological quality was assessed by applying the criteria of the Quantitative Study Quality Assessment Tool. ANALYSIS A wide range of health indicators was used. Collective gardening was associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption than was nongardening. Mixed results were found for physical activity and physiological health. A positive association was found in most studies with mental health and social health. However, the vast majority of included studies were cross-sectional and presented selection bias (n = 13 of 15 for both) and very few used objective measurement methods (n = 3 of 15). CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal studies allowing the exploration of causal relationships are needed before the health benefits of collective garden participation suggested by existing studies can be confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Tharrey
- M. Tharrey and N. Darmon are with MoISA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicole Darmon
- M. Tharrey and N. Darmon are with MoISA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, Montpellier, France
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Chauvenet C, Sheppard B, Siddique N, Gallagher B, Kearney W, De Marco M. A Qualitative Study of Rural Low-Wealth Participants’ Experiences with Community Gardens. JOURNAL OF HUNGER & ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/19320248.2021.1907641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Chauvenet
- Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, United States
| | - Brett Sheppard
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Nasir Siddique
- Dr. Kiran C Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, United States
| | - Bridget Gallagher
- Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, United States
| | - William Kearney
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Molly De Marco
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
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Marsh P, Diekmann LO, Egerer M, Lin B, Ossola A, Kingsley J. Where birds felt louder: The garden as a refuge during COVID-19. WELLBEING, SPACE AND SOCIETY 2021; 2:100055. [PMID: 34746896 PMCID: PMC8562863 DOI: 10.1016/j.wss.2021.100055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries experienced something of a boom in interest in gardening. Gardens have long been considered as refuges into which we retreat to escape various struggles and challenges. In this study we examine the characteristics and functions of the garden as a refuge during the period of increased garden interest associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of qualitative results about garden experiences from 3,743 survey respondents revealed intertwining garden and emotional geographies. Utilising non-representational and therapeutic landscape theories, we found multifarious and heightened experiences of non-material aspects of gardens; that is, the sensory and emotional aspects. People experienced, for example, a sense of joy, beauty, and reassurance, a greater attunement to the natural world and an increased sense of nature connection than they had at other times: birds felt louder. These heightened sensory and emotional experiences had therapeutic benefits, across age and geographical spectrums, during these difficult times. This research improves our understandings of the positive potential of non-material aspects of gardens in the creation of therapeutic landscapes in and beyond COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Marsh
- Centre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Advocate House, 1 Liverpool St, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | | | - Monika Egerer
- Department of Life Science Systems, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | | | - Alessandro Ossola
- University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Macquarie University Sydney and University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jonathan Kingsley
- School of Health Sciences and Centre of Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia
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Tharrey M, Sachs A, Perignon M, Simon C, Mejean C, Litt J, Darmon N. Improving lifestyles sustainability through community gardening: results and lessons learnt from the JArDinS quasi-experimental study. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1798. [PMID: 33243204 PMCID: PMC7690132 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09836-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite an increasing number of studies highlighting the health benefits of community gardening, the literature is limited by cross-sectional designs. The "JArDinS" quasi-experimental study aimed to assess the impact of community garden participation on the adoption of more sustainable lifestyles among French adults. METHODS Individuals entering a community garden in Montpellier (France) in 2018 (n = 66) were compared with pairwise matched individuals with no experience in community gardening (n = 66). Nutritional quality, environmental impact and cost of monthly household food supplies, level of physical activity measured by accelerometers, as well as mental and social well-being, sensitivity to food waste, and connection with nature were evaluated at baseline (t0) and 12 months later (t1) to explore sustainability of lifestyles in social/health, environmental and economic dimensions. Linear mixed models were used to determine the independent effect of community gardening on investigated lifestyles components. In-depth interviews were conducted at t1 with 15 gardeners to better understand changes that may have occurred in gardeners' lives during the first year of gardening. RESULTS At t0, gardeners had lower education level, lower BMI and their household reported lower percentage of meals consumed outside of the home compared to non-gardeners (p < 0.05). Participating in the community garden had no significant impact, in spite of sufficient statistical power, on fruit and vegetables supplies (main outcome), nor on physical activity parameters, nor on others of the social/health, environmental and economic lifestyles components investigated. Qualitative interviews suggested the existence of pre-established health and environmental consciousness in some gardeners and revealed several barriers to the participation such as lack of time, lack of gardening knowledge, physical difficulty of gardening, health problems and conflicts with other gardeners. CONCLUSIONS The health benefits of community gardening previously reported by cross-sectional studies might be confounded by selection bias. The JArDinS study highlights the need to identify solutions to overcome barriers related to community garden participation when designing relevant public health interventions for the promotion of sustainable lifestyles. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03694782 . Date of registration: 3rd October 2018, retrospectively registered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Tharrey
- MOISA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France.
| | - Ashby Sachs
- University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Marlène Perignon
- MOISA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Chantal Simon
- CarMen Laboratory, INSERM 1060, INRA 1397, University of Lyon, F-69600, Oullins, France
| | - Caroline Mejean
- MOISA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
| | - Jill Litt
- University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.,ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nicole Darmon
- MOISA, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, CIHEAM-IAMM, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France
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Marsh P, Mallick S, Flies E, Jones P, Pearson S, Koolhof I, Byrne J, Kendal D. Trust, Connection and Equity: Can Understanding Context Help to Establish Successful Campus Community Gardens? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17207476. [PMID: 33066596 PMCID: PMC7602408 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17207476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Campus community gardens (CCGs) can potentially improve student health and wellbeing, mitigate social and ecological problems, and nurture university-community relationships. However, CCGs are located in complex socio-political and ecological settings and many community gardens struggle or fail. However, few studies have assessed the socio-political/ecological context of a garden setting prior to its development to understand the potential barriers and enablers of success. Our study assessed the socio-spatial context of a proposed CCG at a student university accommodation site. We engaged diverse university and community stakeholders through interviews, focus groups and a survey to explore their perceptions of the space generally and the proposed garden specifically. Visual observations and public life surveying were used to determine patterns of behavior. Results confirmed known problems associated with an underutilized site that provides little opportunity for lingering or contact with nature; and unknown barriers, including socially disconnected stakeholders and community distrust of the university. The research also uncovered positive enablers, such as stakeholder appreciation of the social, wellbeing and ecological benefits that a CCG could deliver. Our findings suggest that an in-depth exploration of a proposed garden context can be an important enabler of its success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Marsh
- Centre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-3-6226-6905
| | - Suzanne Mallick
- Centre for Rural Health, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia;
| | - Emily Flies
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia;
| | - Penelope Jones
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia;
| | - Sue Pearson
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia; (S.P.); (I.K.)
| | - Iain Koolhof
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia; (S.P.); (I.K.)
| | - Jason Byrne
- School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia; (J.B.); (D.K.)
| | - Dave Kendal
- School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7000, Australia; (J.B.); (D.K.)
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A Systematic Review Protocol to Identify the Key Benefits and Associated Program Characteristics of Community Gardening for Vulnerable Populations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17062029. [PMID: 32204405 PMCID: PMC7143884 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17062029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Gardening has long been a popular pastime. There is a growing evidence base for the health and well-being benefits of gardening. Community gardening brings a social aspect to gardening, thereby increasing the potential benefits to include addressing social inclusion and poor community health through sharing of values, support of others, and building networks. This systematic review protocol aims to determine the characteristics of community gardening that could lead to beneficial outcomes such as connection with the community and development of new skills. Thirteen academic databases will be searched for studies looking at the benefits of community gardening, with a focus on vulnerable populations. Data will be extracted from all studies meeting the inclusion criteria and summarized to provide an overview of the current literature. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive investigation into community gardening, its benefits, and how they are achieved for the target population. By gathering and synthesizing this information, the review should allow policy makers and practitioners to work more effectively to address health and social inequities, by highlighting areas of need and enabling optimization of future interventions.
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25
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Co-Creating Value in Sustainable and Alternative Food Networks: The Case of Community Supported Agriculture in New Zealand. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12031252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Over recent decades, society has been facing different social, political, and economic challenges that are changing classical consumption dynamics towards more sustainable practices, mostly in the field of food consumption. In particular, alternative food networks are enabling new food consumption models inspired by principles of participation and sustainability. The aim of this study was to explore how community supported agriculture farms create value for sustainability practices from both farmer and consumer perspectives in order to find new levers to engage consumers towards pursuing better food consumption models. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted following focused ethnography principles. Results: The results show that community supported agriculture is a complex concept based on the active participation of consumers as carers of economic, social, and environmental values. These values are all strongly connected, and together contribute to create an ecosystem where sustainable food practices can be promoted through a “learning by doing” process. Conclusions: This research offers new ways to re-connect and collaborate with consumers in the era of sustainable food consumption.
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Kou H, Zhang S, Liu Y. Community-Engaged Research for the Promotion of Healthy Urban Environments: A Case Study of Community Garden Initiative in Shanghai, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16214145. [PMID: 31661836 PMCID: PMC6862388 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16214145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The importance of community gardens in a healthy urban environment has been extensively documented, while the garden building involving communities has not been much explored in fast-developing cities. This study examines community engagement in garden building activities in a rapid urbanization context, aiming to explore the application of community-engaged research methods for the promotion of neighbourhood environments. The Community Garden Initiative consisting of an array of progressive actions is formulated by the research team, featuring a process of increasing involvement of community members and decreasing intensity of external interventions. These activities have been launched based on community-university partnerships in Shanghai since 2014, synchronising with a transformation of urban regeneration paradigm in China where people-oriented approaches are more emphasized. Five actions covering 70 community gardens are analysed through surveys on participants’ attitudes and perceptions towards the activities. The results of the study presented people’s rapid acceptance of participation in public affairs, reflected possible measures to promote public participation, and confirmed the positive impacts of the garden building on the neighbourhood environmental health as well as on the community-building. Taking into account that residents generally lack the consciousness and capacities required to implement actions at the initial stage of community engagement, we proposed in the conclusion to start with external interventions and capacity buildings carried out by professionals as a supplement to the ‘community-driven’ principle of CBPR methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaiyun Kou
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Institute for Advanced Study in Architecture and Urban-Rural Planning, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Energy-Saving Study of Dense Habitat of Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
| | - Sichu Zhang
- Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Yuelai Liu
- College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Key Laboratory of Ecology and Energy-Saving Study of Dense Habitat of Ministry of Education, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Kingsley J, Bailey A, Torabi N, Zardo P, Mavoa S, Gray T, Tracey D, Pettitt P, Zajac N, Foenander E. A Systematic Review Protocol Investigating Community Gardening Impact Measures. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E3430. [PMID: 31527436 PMCID: PMC6765939 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Existing community gardening research has tended to be exploratory and descriptive, utilising qualitative or mixed methodologies to explore and understand community garden participation. While research on community gardening attracts growing interest, the empirical rigour of measurement scales and embedded indicators has received comparatively less attention. Despite the extensive body of community gardening literature, a coherent narrative on valid, high quality approaches to the measurement of outcomes and impact across different cultural contexts is lacking and yet to be comprehensively examined. This is essential as cities are becoming hubs for cultural diversity. Systematic literature reviews that explore the multiple benefits of community gardening and other urban agriculture activities have been undertaken, however, a systematic review of the impact measures of community gardening is yet to be completed. This search protocol aims to address the following questions: (1) How are the health, wellbeing, social and environmental outcomes and impacts of community gardening measured? (2) What cultural diversity considerations have existing community garden measures taken into account? Demographic data will be collected along with clear domains/constructs of experiences, impacts and outcomes captured from previous literature to explore if evidence considers culturally heterogeneous and diverse populations. This will offer an understanding as to whether community gardening research is appropriately measuring this cross-cultural activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Kingsley
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia.
| | - Aisling Bailey
- School of Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia.
| | - Nooshin Torabi
- School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
| | - Pauline Zardo
- Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women, Queensland Government, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia.
| | - Suzanne Mavoa
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Tonia Gray
- Centre for Educational Research, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales 2751, Australia.
| | - Danielle Tracey
- Centre for Educational Research and Transitional Health Research Institutes, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales 2751, Australia.
| | - Philip Pettitt
- Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia.
| | - Nicholas Zajac
- Faculty of Science, School of Environment, University of Auckland, Auckland, North Island 1010, New Zealand.
| | - Emily Foenander
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria 3122, Australia.
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