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Yang Y, Ro E, Lee TJ, An BC, Hong KP, Yun HJ, Park EY, Cho HR, Yun SY, Park M, Yun YJ, Lee AR, Jeon JI, Jung S, Ahn TH, Jin HY, Lee KJ, Choi KH. The Multi-Sites Trial on the Effects of Therapeutic Gardening on Mental Health and Well-Being. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19138046. [PMID: 35805706 PMCID: PMC9266122 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19138046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Although many people affected by COVID-19 suffer from some form of psychological distress, access to proper treatment or psychosocial interventions has been limited. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of a therapeutic gardening program conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program consisted of 30 sessions and was conducted at 10 nationwide sites in Korea from June to November 2021. Mental health and well-being were assessed using the Mental Health Screening Tool for Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Screening Tool for Anxiety Disorders, Engagement in Daily Activity Scale, brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. Cohen’s d value was calculated for the effect size, and a multilevel analysis was used to determine the longitudinal effects of therapeutic gardening. The effect sizes for depression, anxiety, daily activities, quality of life, and mindfulness were 0.84, 0.72, 0.61, 0.64, and 0.40, respectively. Multilevel analyses showed that all five mental health variables improved significantly over time as the therapeutic gardening program progressed. Therapeutic gardening is promising and applicable as a nature-based intervention to improve the mental health of individuals experiencing psychological distress especially in the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeji Yang
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (Y.Y.); (E.R.)
- KU Mind Health Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Eunbin Ro
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (Y.Y.); (E.R.)
- KU Mind Health Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | | | - Byung-Chul An
- Division of Forest & Landscape Architecture, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea;
| | | | | | - Eun-Yeong Park
- Department of Environmental Landscape Architecture, Joongbu University, Geumsan 32713, Korea;
| | | | - Suk-Young Yun
- Department of Landscape Architecture, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea;
| | - Miok Park
- Department of Smart Green City Industry Convergence, Korea Nazarene University, Cheonan 31172, Korea;
| | - Young-Jo Yun
- Department of Ecological Landscape Architecture Design, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea;
| | - Ai-Ran Lee
- Department of Human Environment Design, Cheongju University, Cheongju 28503, Korea;
| | - Jeong-Ill Jeon
- Shingu Botanic Garden, Shingu College, Seongnam 13443, Korea;
| | - Songhie Jung
- Gardens and Education Research Division, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 11186, Korea; (S.J.); (T.-H.A.)
| | - Tai-Hyeon Ahn
- Gardens and Education Research Division, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 11186, Korea; (S.J.); (T.-H.A.)
| | - Hye-Young Jin
- Gardens and Education Research Division, Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon 11186, Korea; (S.J.); (T.-H.A.)
- Correspondence: (H.-Y.J.); (K.J.L.); (K.-H.C.); Tel.: +82-31-540-1031 (H.-Y.J.); +82-10-9745-2145 (K.J.L.); +82-2-3290-2867 (K.-H.C.)
| | - Kyung Ju Lee
- Integrative Obstetrics & Gynecology, Institute for Occupational & Environmental Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Correspondence: (H.-Y.J.); (K.J.L.); (K.-H.C.); Tel.: +82-31-540-1031 (H.-Y.J.); +82-10-9745-2145 (K.J.L.); +82-2-3290-2867 (K.-H.C.)
| | - Kee-Hong Choi
- School of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (Y.Y.); (E.R.)
- KU Mind Health Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Correspondence: (H.-Y.J.); (K.J.L.); (K.-H.C.); Tel.: +82-31-540-1031 (H.-Y.J.); +82-10-9745-2145 (K.J.L.); +82-2-3290-2867 (K.-H.C.)
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