ISHS Acta Horticulturae 639: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Expanding Roles for Horticulture in Improving Human Well-Being and Life Quality
EFFECTS OF HORTICULTURAL ACTIVITIES ON ANXIETY REDUCTION OF FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS |
| Authors: | Y.-H. Lee, M.-R. Ro, Y.-S. Lee |
| Keywords: | emotional disorders, activity therapy, people/plant interactions, horticultural therapy, mental health |
| Abstract:
The use of horticulture as a therapeutic tool has been increasing in recent years. This study was undertaken to examine the potential impact of horticultural participation on anxiety reduction of female high school students. Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory YZ (STAI-KYZ Korean version), a validated self-reported questionnaire as a testing instrument, was used to assess the temporary condition of “state anxiety” and the more general and long-standing quality of “trait anxiety”. Social anxiety scales assessed “self-evaluation”, “self-esteem”, and “social-skills” Participants consisted of 74 female students; 39 in the treatment group, and 35 in the control group. The treatment group participated in 12 horticultural programs, while the control group did not take part in any horticultural programs. Within the treatment (horticultural program) group: 1) there was a reduction from 48.46 pre-test to 42.69 post-test in “state anxiety” level, 2) 50.90 pre-test to 45.79 post-test in trait anxiety level, and 3) social anxiety level was reduced in all three areas: self-evaluation from 21.33 pre-test to 18.69, self-esteem from 16.31 pre-test to 15.05 post-test and social-skills 27.28 pre-test to 26.00 post-test. The control group demonstrated slight increases in anxiety on four of the five scales and minor (0.05) decrease on the fifth one during the course of the experiment. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
