Horticultural therapy program for middle-aged women's depression, anxiety, and self-identify

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a horticultural therapy program on reducing middle-aged women's depression and anxiety and improving their self-identity.

Participants were 36 women aged 40-59 years who attended the D Culture Center in Incheon, South Korea (control, n = 18; experimental, n = 18).

The study was conducted in July-August 2017; the experimental group participated twice/week for 12 sessions.

The Menopause Symptom Index, Self-rating Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Dignan Ego-identity Scale were used pre- and post-test. Independent sample t-tests and matching sample t-tests were performed to verify pre-evaluation homogeneity between groups; to determine the changes in depression, anxiety, and ego identity before and after the program; and to compare the efficacy between the groups, respectively.

Depression and anxiety scores were significantly lower (p < 0.001) and self-identity was significantly higher (p = 0.003) among the experimental group compared to the control. The control group showed no significant changes in study variables.

The horticultural therapy program was effective at decreasing depression and anxiety and improving self-identity in middle-aged women.