Enhancing Self-Esteem, Well-Being, and Relaxation in the Elderly through Nature-Based Interventions

As the populations of many countries are aging, institutions providing support for the elderly increasingly often use nature-based interventions (NBIs) as part of their therapeutic activities. This study aimed to show the impact of 8-week active and passive NBI programs on self-esteem, well-being, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2024-07, Vol.21 (7), p.952
Main Authors: Heród, Anna, Szewczyk-Taranek, Bożena, Pawłowska, Bożena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Flowers & plants
Health services
Horticulture
Intervention
Life expectancy
Older people
Oxygen saturation
Residential areas
Self esteem
Social interaction
Social policy
Students
Well being
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Summary:As the populations of many countries are aging, institutions providing support for the elderly increasingly often use nature-based interventions (NBIs) as part of their therapeutic activities. This study aimed to show the impact of 8-week active and passive NBI programs on self-esteem, well-being, and relaxation in the elderly. The NBI programs were conducted in two groups of elderly citizens of Poland: independent senior students and seniors requiring 24 h care. The Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale and the World Health Organization Well-Being Index were used to assess self-esteem and well-being before and after the programs. To assess relaxation, pre-post session measurements of pulse rate (PR) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO ) were used. Our study showed an improvement in the self-esteem, well-being, and relaxation of the participants of both active and passive NBI programs. In all study groups, self-esteem and well-being improved after the programs, regardless of the type of intervention, and after each NBI session, the elderly showed a decrease in PR and an increase in SpO , which indicated a deeper state of relaxation. Our research showed a greater improvement in the tested parameters in the seniors participating in the passive programs in a garden. This confirms a key role of green spaces in residential areas for the elderly and in nursing homes.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph21070952