IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v9y2017i1p63-d87007.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Community Gardens as Health Promoters: Effects on Mental and Physical Stress Levels in Adults with and without Mental Disabilities

Author

Listed:
  • Nugrahaning Sani Dewi

    (United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan)

  • Masakazu Komatsuzaki

    (United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
    Center for Field Science Research & Education, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1, Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan)

  • Yuriko Yamakawa

    (Center for Medical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami machi, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0394, Japan)

  • Hiromi Takahashi

    (Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences Hospital, 4733 Ami, Ami-machi, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0331, Japan)

  • Saori Shibanuma

    (Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences Hospital, 4733 Ami, Ami-machi, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0331, Japan)

  • Takeshi Yasue

    (United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
    College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1, Chuo Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan)

  • Tsuyoshi Okayama

    (United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
    College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1, Chuo Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan)

  • Atsushi Toyoda

    (United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Saiwaicho 3-5-8, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
    College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1, Chuo Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan)

  • Hikari Shimonishi

    (College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1, Chuo Ami, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan)

  • Seiichi Sasaki

    (Center for Medical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami machi, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0394, Japan)

Abstract

The study focuses on psychological and physical effects of stress while performing community garden activities of various intensity levels. The aim of this study was to determine the psychological and physical effects in adults with (case group) and without (control group) mental disabilities. Salivary α-amylase (sAA) levels and the stress response scale (SRS-18) were used for the psychological analysis ( n = 42). For physical assessment ( n = 13), electrocardiogram (ECG), surface electromyogram (sEMG), and respiration rate were continuously measured while performing the activities using a multichannel telemetry system. The results showed that following the activities, the case group exhibited decreasing sAA levels while control group exhibited increasing sAA levels. However, both groups exhibited lower SRS-18 results following the activities. Compared with the control group, the case group had a significantly lower increase in the ratio of the heart rate (IRHR) (5.5%) during low-intensity work (filling pots with soil), but a significantly higher IRHR (16.7%) during high-intensity work (turning over soil). The case group experienced significantly higher levels of fatigue during high-intensity work (digging) than during the rest condition. These findings indicate that appropriate workload allocation, according to health, is necessary in the community garden setting because reducing the intensity of work assignments for people with mental disabilities will reduce their physical stress.

Suggested Citation

  • Nugrahaning Sani Dewi & Masakazu Komatsuzaki & Yuriko Yamakawa & Hiromi Takahashi & Saori Shibanuma & Takeshi Yasue & Tsuyoshi Okayama & Atsushi Toyoda & Hikari Shimonishi & Seiichi Sasaki, 2017. "Community Gardens as Health Promoters: Effects on Mental and Physical Stress Levels in Adults with and without Mental Disabilities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:1:p:63-:d:87007
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/1/63/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/9/1/63/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hale, James & Knapp, Corrine & Bardwell, Lisa & Buchenau, Michael & Marshall, Julie & Sancar, Fahriye & Litt, Jill S., 2011. "Connecting food environments and health through the relational nature of aesthetics: Gaining insight through the community gardening experience," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(11), pages 1853-1863, June.
    2. Twiss, J. & Dickinson, J. & Duma, S. & Kleinman, T. & Paulsen, H. & Rilveria, L., 2003. "Community Gardens: Lessons Learned from California Healthy Cities and Communities," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(9), pages 1435-1438.
    3. Chen, D. & Jaenicke, E.C. & Volpe, R.J., 2016. "Food environments and obesity: Household diet expenditure versus food deserts," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(5), pages 881-888.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Charlotte Wendelboe-Nelson & Sarah Kelly & Marion Kennedy & John W. Cherrie, 2019. "A Scoping Review Mapping Research on Green Space and Associated Mental Health Benefits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-49, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Katie L. Butterfield, 2023. "Modeling community garden participation: how locations and frames shape participant demographics," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(3), pages 1067-1085, September.
    2. Michael Takudzwa Pasara & Steven Henry Dunga, 2022. "Value Chains And Climate Change Mitigation Strategies: A Case Of Nutritional Gardens In Zimbabwe," Eurasian Journal of Business and Management, Eurasian Publications, vol. 10(1), pages 62-75.
    3. Völker, Sebastian & Kistemann, Thomas, 2013. "Reprint of: “I'm always entirely happy when I'm here!” Urban blue enhancing human health and well-being in Cologne and Düsseldorf, Germany," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 141-152.
    4. Scott Cloutier & Lincoln Larson & Jenna Jambeck, 2014. "Are sustainable cities “happy” cities? Associations between sustainable development and human well-being in urban areas of the United States," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 633-647, June.
    5. Liling Huang, 2023. "Developing Place-Based Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Taipei City’s Jiuzhuang Community Garden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    6. Lauren Lautenschlager & Chery Smith, 2007. "Beliefs, knowledge, and values held by inner-city youth about gardening, nutrition, and cooking," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 24(2), pages 245-258, June.
    7. John Taylor & Sarah Lovell, 2014. "Urban home food gardens in the Global North: research traditions and future directions," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 31(2), pages 285-305, June.
    8. Daniely Casagrande Borges & Júlio Celso Borello Vargas & Olivia Souza Honório & Larissa Loures Mendes & Raquel Canuto, 2024. "Social and ethnic-racial inequities in the occurrence of food deserts in a Brazilian state capital," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 16(3), pages 595-606, June.
    9. Marek Hekrle & Jan Macháč & Lenka Dubová, 2023. "Evaluating Importance of Community Gardens in Times of Calm and Crisis: From Relaxation to Food Self-Provisioning," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-15, October.
    10. Kristen Cooksey Stowers & Qianxia Jiang & Abiodun T. Atoloye & Sean Lucan & Kim Gans, 2020. "Racial Differences in Perceived Food Swamp and Food Desert Exposure and Disparities in Self-Reported Dietary Habits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-14, September.
    11. Han, Jeehee & Schwartz, Amy Ellen & Elbel, Brian, 2020. "Does proximity to fast food cause childhood obesity? Evidence from public housing," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    12. Kentaro Harada & Kimihiro Hino & Akiko Iida & Takahiro Yamazaki & Hiroyuki Usui & Yasushi Asami & Makoto Yokohari, 2021. "How Does Urban Farming Benefit Participants’ Health? A Case Study of Allotments and Experience Farms in Tokyo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-13, January.
    13. Camille Dumat & Antoine Pierart & Muhammad Shahid & Jingtao Wu, 2018. "Collective conceptualization and management of risk for arsenic pollution in urban community gardens," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 99(2), pages 167-187, September.
    14. Daniela Soleri, 2018. "Civic seeds: new institutions for seed systems and communities—a 2016 survey of California seed libraries," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 35(2), pages 331-347, June.
    15. Chen, Danhong & Jaenicke, Edward C., "undated". "Composition of Food-at-Home Expenditures and Childhood Obesity," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258343, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    16. Dong, Zefeng & Jaenicke, Edward C. & Kuhns, Annemarie, "undated". "The Effects of Exogenous Changes in Food Environment on Households’ Healthfulness of Food Purchases," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273910, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    17. Yasuo Ohe & Shinichi Kurihara & Shinpei Shimoura, 2014. "Evaluating willingness to become a food education volunteer among urban residents in Japan: toward a participatory food policy," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 2(1), pages 1-19, December.
    18. Rositsa T. Ilieva & Nevin Cohen & Maggie Israel & Kathrin Specht & Runrid Fox-Kämper & Agnès Fargue-Lelièvre & Lidia Poniży & Victoria Schoen & Silvio Caputo & Caitlin K. Kirby & Benjamin Goldstein & , 2022. "The Socio-Cultural Benefits of Urban Agriculture: A Review of the Literature," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-21, April.
    19. Hua Zheng & Min Guo & Qian Wang & Qinghai Zhang & Noriko Akita, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Knowledge Structure and Research Progress Related to Urban Community Garden Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-34, January.
    20. Michael Classens, 2015. "The nature of urban gardens: toward a political ecology of urban agriculture," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 32(2), pages 229-239, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:1:p:63-:d:87007. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.