Study Links Gardening to Better Mood, Less Stress
Someone once said, "Gardening adds years to your life, and life to your years" — meaning it could both make you live longer and enjoy your life more.
While the results of a small 2022 study from the University of Florida don't quite prove that, they do link gardening with better mood, less stress and decreased feelings of depression among women.
Similar studies have shown that gardening can help improve quality of life among older people, but this new study focused on healthy women aged between 26 and 49.
The researchers put 32 participants into two groups. One group spent a month doing one-hour gardening activities twice a week, while the other group did art-making activities.
The gardening was done inside — in a large center at the university — where the participants took part in common garden activities with the help of some of the researchers.
The art group met in a building about 30 meters away, and did things like making paper and telling stories with pictures.
Before and after the activities, the participants were asked about their feelings of anxiety, stress and depression, about their mood, and for thoughts on their quality of life.
When the researchers compared the answers, they found that after both activities, participants showed improvements in mood, and lower feelings of stress and depression.
So perhaps art could also "add years to your life and life to your years."
Those who took part in the gardening activities also reported lower feelings of anxiety.
Study author Charles L. Guy told PsyPost that he hoped larger experiments could help find out more about the benefits of gardening.
1. Do you find it surprising that gardening may have so many health benefits?
2. Do you have a garden? If so, how much time do you spend in it? If not, would you like to?
3. Are any of your friends or family into gardening?
4. What impact do your hobbies have on your mood or well-being?
5. Have you taken up any new hobbies in recent years?
6. What hobbies would you recommend to someone who's often stressed?
7. Do you know anyone who spends a lot of time and money on their hobby?