ISHS Acta Horticulturae 790: VIII International People-Plant Symposium on Exploring Therapeutic Powers of Flowers, Greenery and Nature
HORTICULTURAL THERAPY IN A JAIL: CORRECTIONAL CARE FOR ANGER |
| Authors: | S.M. Lee, J.K. Suh, S. Lee |
| Keywords: | horticultural activities, jail, women prisoners, Multidimensional Anger Inventory (MAI) |
| Abstract:
This study developed a group intervention model appropriate for control of anger in women prisoners in Korea and tested its effectiveness. Subjects included six women in the experimental group and six in the control group, in a female jail. Members of the experimental group were persons who did not refuse horticultural activity, who needed emotional care based on the judgment of the prison officer, were able to read Korean, were able to understand the director’s instruction, and were able to work in a sitting position. The horticultural therapy program (HTP) comprised propagation, cultivation, aromatherapy and floral design. The HTP was applied as one session per week, for one and half hours per session, with a total of 21 sessions, with indoor and outdoor activities, from 15 March to 16 August 2002. The indoor activities were practiced in the staff dining room and the outdoor activities were performed in the greenhouse, playground, and kitchen garden. The Multidimensional Anger Inventory (MAI) developed by Siegel (1986) was used. It consisted of 30 items, with a five-point likert scale, and results were analysed using a Wilcoxon rank sum test by SPSSPC win 10.0. The results showed that there was not a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.528). But, the mean score of the experimental group was decreased by -1.5 points from 67.8 to 66.3, while the mean score of the control group was increased +6.33 points from 61.7 to 68.0. The reduction in levels of anger in the experimental group showed the possibility of the effect the HTP for the control of anger in the female prisoners. From the results, a consideration of the subject’s character and preference for the indoor or outdoor activity are recommended. | |
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