Health and Well-being Benefits of Gardening: A Comparative Study among Gardeners and Non-gardeners in the Philippines

Authors

  • Bryan G. Daiz College of Nursing, Visayas State University, Leyte 6521, Philippines
  • Ezequiel L. Rosales College of Nursing, Visayas State University, Leyte 6521, Philippines
  • Primel Diago College of Arts and Sciences, Northeastern Mindanao Colleges, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
  • Janet Alexis A. De los Santos College of Nursing, Visayas State University, Leyte 6521, Philippines

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2022.v13i04.007

Abstract

Aim: This study is aimed to assess the health and well-being benefits of gardening between gardeners and non-gardeners.

Methods: A total of 400 respondents participated in the study which was equally sampled between gardeners and non-gardeners. Criterion sampling was utilized in the participant selection. The study utilized standardized questionnaires and was conducted in Central Philippines. The study utilized a quasi-experimental post-test only design. T-test of independent samples was utilized in the analysis.

Results: Results revealed that gardeners have considerably higher reports of good health (M=3.40, SD=0.48), higher resilience (M=3.82, SD=.51) and displayed significantly higher reports of coping (M=3.82, SD=.56) than non-gardeners. Non-gardeners on the other hand showed to be more fearful of COVID-19 than the gardener group (M=3.26.SD=.63).

Conclusion:    Gardening activity is beneficial in maintaining a person’s perceived health and well-being especially in times of distress and social isolation. People who engage in gardening activities are better at adapting to change, making them more resilient and adjusted from grief and loss of a loved one. It is recommended to incorporate gardening as an adaptive means in improving the public’s health and well-being especially at times of health crises.

Keywords:

Gardening, Fear of COVID-19, Perceived Health, Resilience, Bereavement Coping, Psychological Well-being, Philippines

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahorsu, D. K., Lin, C. Y., Imani, V., Saffari, M., Griffiths, M. D., & Pakpour, A. H. (2020). The Fear of COVID-19 Scale: Development and Initial Validation. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1–9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-020-00270-8

Ahrens, K. F., Neumann, R. J., Kollmann, B., Plichta, M. M., Lieb, K., Tüscher, O., & Reif, A. (2021). Differential impact of COVID-related lockdown on mental health in Germany. World Psychiatry: Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 20(1), 140–141. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20830

Beyer, K. M., Kaltenbach, A., Szabo, A., Bogar, S., Nieto, F. J., & Malecki, K. M. (2014). Exposure to neighborhood green space and mental health: evidence from the survey of the health of Wisconsin. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(3), 3453–3472. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110303453

Camps-Calvet M., Langemeyer J., Calvet-Mir L., Gómez-Baggethun E., & March H. (2015). Sowing Resilience and Contestation in Times of Crises: The Case of Urban Gardening Movements in Barcelona. Partecipazione E Conflitto, 8(2),417–442. https://doi.org/10.1285/i20356609v8i2p417

Clatworthy, J., Hinds J., & Camic, P.M. (2013). Gardening as a mental health intervention: A review. Mental Health Review Journal 18(4), 214-225. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-02-2013-0007

Chirinos, D. A., Ong, J. C., Garcini, L. M., Alvarado, D., & Fagundes, C. (2019). Bereavement, Self-Reported Sleep Disturbances, and Inflammation: Results From Project HEART. Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(1), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000645

Cohen, S. & Williamson, G. (1988) Perceived stress in a probability sample of the United States In: Spacapam S and Oskamp S (eds) The Social Psychology of Health. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 31–67.

Crunk, A. E., Burke, L. A., Neimeyer, R. A., Robinson, E., III, & Bai, H. (2021). The Coping Assessment for Bereavement and Loss Experiences (CABLE): Development and Initial Validation. Death Studies, 45(9), 677–691. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2019.1676323

Dietz, L. (2012). Healing Spaces: Gardening Activities for Stress-Reduction. https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/ms_occ_therapy/38/

Howarth, M., Brettle, A., Hardman, M., & Maden, M. (2020). What is the evidence for the impact of gardens and gardening on health and well-being: a scoping review and evidence-based logic model to guide healthcare strategy decision making on the use of gardening approaches as a social prescription. BMJ Open, 10(7), e036923. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036923

Janke, M., Nimrod, G., & Kleiber, I. D. (2008). Leisure Activity and Depressive Symptoms of Widowed and Married Women in Later Life. Journal of Leisure Research,40(2), 250-266. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2008.11950140

Koay, W.I. & Dillion, D. (2020) Community gardening: stress, well-being and resilience potentials. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(18), 6740. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186740

Lachowycz, K., & Jones, A. P. (2011). Greenspace and obesity: a systematic review of the evidence. Obesity reviews: an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 12(5), e183–e189. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2010.00827.x

Maas, J., Verheij, R. A., de Vries, S., Spreeuwenberg, P., Schellevis, F. G., & Groenewegen, P. P. (2009). Morbidity is related to a green living environment. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 63(12), 967–973. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2008.079038

Machado, M. M., & Swank, J. M. (2019). Therapeutic gardening: A counseling approach for bereavement from suicide. Death Studies, 43(10), 629–633. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2018.1509908

Mizuno-Matsumoto, Y., Kobashi, S., Hata, Y., Ishikawa, O., & Asano, F. (2008). Horticultural Therapy has Beneficial Effects on Brain Functions in Cerebrovascular Disease. International Journal of Intelligent Computing in Medical Sciences and Imaging Processing, 2, 169-18.

https://doi.org/10.1080/1931308X.2008.10644162

Pietrabissa, G. & Simpson, S.G. Psychological consequence of social isolation during COVID-19 outbreak. Frontiers in Psychology, 11:2201. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02201

Prior, A., Fenger-Grøn, M., Davydow, D. S., Olsen, J., Li, J., Guldin, M. B., & Vestergaard, M. (2017). Bereavement, multimorbidity and mortality: a population-based study using bereavement as an indicator of mental stress. Psychological Medicine, 48(9), 1437–1443. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291717002380

Rahman, M. A., Hoque, N., Alif, S. M., Salehin, M., Islam, S. M. S., Banik, B., Sharif, A., Na zim, N. B., Sultana, F., & Cross, W. (2020). Factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Globalization and Health, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00624-w

Rodríguez-Rey, R., Garrido-Hernansaiz, H., & Collado, S. (2020). Psychological Impact and Associated Factors During the Initial Stage of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Among the General Population in Spain. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1540. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01540

Sanchez, E. L., & Liamputtong, P. (2016). Community gardening and health-related benefits for a rural Victorian town. Leisure Studies, 36(2), 269–281. https://doi.org/10.108 0/02614367.2016.1250805

Snell, W. E., Jr., Johnson, G., Lloyd, P. J., & Hoover, W. (1991). The development and validation of the Health Orientation Scale: A measure of psychological tendencies Ass ociated with health. European Journal of Personality, 5, 169-183. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2410050208

Soga, M., Gaston, K. J., & Yamaura, Y. (2016). Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis. Preventive medicine reports, 5, 92–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.11.007

Theodorou, A., Panno, A., Carrus, G., Carbone, G. A., Massullo, C., & Imperatori, C. (2021). Stay home, stay safe, stay green: The role of gardening activities on mental health during the Covid-19 home confinement. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 61, 12 7091. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127091

Thompson, R. (2018). Gardening for health: a regular dose of gardening. Clinical Medicine (London, England), 18(3), 201–205. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.18-3-201

Published

01-04-2022

How to Cite

Bryan G. Daiz, Ezequiel L. Rosales, Primel Diago, & Janet Alexis A. De los Santos. (2022). Health and Well-being Benefits of Gardening: A Comparative Study among Gardeners and Non-gardeners in the Philippines. The Malaysian Journal of Nursing (MJN), 13(4), 39-45. https://doi.org/10.31674/mjn.2022.v13i04.007

Metrics