Gardening is beneficial for adult mental health: Scottish Health Survey, 2012-2013
Engelsk titel: Gardening is beneficial for adult mental health: Scottish Health Survey, 2012-2013
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Författare:
Shiue, Ivy
Email: ivy.shiue@northumbria.ac.uk
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 20
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 16065390
Sammanfattning
Background: Gardening has been reported as being beneficial for mental well-being for vulnerable populations since
2000. However, little is known concerning its role in the general population. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to
investigate the relationship of gardening and mental health in adults in a countrywide and population-based setting.
Methods: Data was retrieved from and analysed in the Scottish Health Survey, 2012-2013. Information on demographics,
lifestyle factors, gardening engagement, and adult mental health by General Health Questionnaire was obtained by
household interview. Statistical analyses including chi-square test, t-test and survey-weighted logistic and multi-nominal
regression modelling were performed. Results: Of 9709 Scottish adults aged 16-99, 5 531 (57.0%) people did not do any
gardening or building work in the last four weeks. A total of 888 (9.2%) people reported poor self-rated health. Gardening
was associated with adult mental health in people both with or without heart conditions including ability to concentrate,
feeling playing a useful part in things, feeling capable of making decisions, thinking of self as worthless, feeling
reasonably happy, etc. Conclusion: General adults with or without heart conditions could benefit from engaging with
gardening or building work. Future public health programmes promoting such activity should be encouraged in order to
optimise adult mental health.