Want
more zest for life? Consider gardening!
Older adult gardeners report enhanced
optimism, more physical activity, higher
energy levels than non-gardeners
COLLEGE STATION, TX—Does gardening contribute
to quality of life and increased wellness
for older adults? Researchers from the Texas
A&M and Texas State Universities asked these
questions in a survey of people aged 50 and
older. The survey revealed some compelling
reasons for older adults to get themselves
out in the garden.
Aime Sommerfeld, Jayne Zajicek, and Tina
Waliczek designed a questionnaire to
investigate older adult gardeners' and
nongardeners' perceptions of personal life
satisfaction and levels of physical
activity.
According
to Sommerfeld, lead author of the study
published in HortTechnology: "The primary
focus of the study was to determine if
gardening had a positive impact on
perceptions of quality of life and levels of
physical activity of older adults when
compared with nongardeners".
A 2007 Administration on Aging report titled
A Profile of Older Americans noted that one
in every eight Americans is considered an
"older adult" (65+ years).
The older adult population is at greater
risk for disease as a result of decreased
levels of exercise and poor dietary and/or
lifestyle choices; a combination of moderate
physical activity and increased consumption
of fruit and vegetables has been reported to
dramatically reduce an adult's risk for many
chronic diseases.
"Gardening is one of the most popular
home-based leisure activities in the United
States and has been reported as the second
most common leisure activity, after walking,
of adults older than age 65 years", the
researchers noted.
To find out more about the health and
attitudes of older adult who garden,
Sommerfeld and colleagues designed a survey
based on the Life Satisfaction Inventory A (LSIA),
a tool that measures five components of
quality of life: ''zest for life,''
''resolution and fortitude,'' ''congruence
between desired and achieved goals,''
''physical, psychological, and social
self-concept,'' and ''optimism.''
Additional multiple choice questions were
asked to determine respondents' level of
physical activity, perceptions of overall
health and well-being, as well as to gather
demographic information.
The survey was posted on a university
homepage for one month. Responses were
gathered from 298 participants who
differentiated themselves as gardeners or
nongardeners by responding positively or
negatively to the simple question ''do you
garden?''
The researchers found significant
differences in overall life satisfaction
scores, with gardeners receiving higher mean
scores (indicating more positive results) on
the LSIA. Sommerfeld, Zajicek, and Waliczek
explained: "More than 84% of gardeners
agreed with the statement, ''I have made
plans for things I'll be doing a month or a
year from now'' compared with only 68% of
nongardeners."
Significant differences between gardeners
and nongardeners were also noted in the
''energy level'' statement, ''I feel old and
somewhat tired''. Gardeners disagreed with
the statement at a rate of 70.9%, whereas
57.3% of nongardeners disagreed with the
statement.
Older adults who garden also reported a
higher level of daily physical activity
compared to nongardening respondents. Over
three times as many nongardeners (14.71%)
considered themselves to be "quite
inactive.", while only 4.43% of gardener
said the same.
"Almost twice as many gardeners (38%)
considered themselves to be "very active"
compared with only 19.6% of nongardeners",
noted the study.
More than 75% of gardeners who participated
in the survey rated their health as either
''very good'' or ''excellent'. Gardeners
also reported eating more fruit and
vegetables because of their exposure to
gardening.
"These factors, in conjunction with higher
physical activity, result in healthier
lifestyles and increased quality of life",
the researchers wrote.
The study presents strong evidence that
gardening can be an effective way for older
adults to increase life satisfaction while
also increasing physical activity.
"In a time when older adults are living
longer and enjoying more free time,
gardening offers the opportunity to fulfill
needs created by changing lifestyles.
Gardening provides participants with
opportunities to reconnect with themselves
through nature and a healthy activity to
enhance their quality of life", Sommerfeld
concluded.
###
The complete study and abstract are available
on the ASHSHortTechnology electronic
journal web site:http://horttech.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/4/705
Founded in 1903, the American Society for
Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest
organization dedicated to advancing all
facets of horticultural research, education,
and application. More information at ashs.org
