Journal of Korean Society for People, Plants and Environment 2012;15(4):235-240.
Published online August 30, 2012.

회상과 창작을 통한 원예치료가 노인의 자아 통합감과 우울에 미치는 영향

신은숙(Eun Suk Shin), 이민정(Min Jung Lee)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of horticultural therapy through reminiscence and creation on the self-integration and depression of the elderly. For this study, a survey was conducted on 10 female old women as national basic living person classified, who visited Gyeongju Senior Welfare Center in Gyeongsangbukdo, for 1 hour from 10AM of every Wednesday, totally 10 times from April 13, 2011 to June 15, 2011. Evaluations were carried out prior to and after horticultural therapy using evaluation tools such as Selfintegration and Depression. After horticultural therapy the self-integration score increased by 6 points from 36.0 to 42.0 so that it showed a significant difference at the significance level of P<0.05. The subjects whose self-integration score showed remarkable improvement were F and J. The self-integration scores for F and J were improved by 15 points, from 38 to 53 and from 30 to 45 respectively. Particularly F participated in the class with very active attitude without being absent at all. After horticultural therapy the depression score did not show any statistically significant difference but decreased by 1.6 points from 15.3 to 13.7. The depression scores of the subjects C, D and E decreased by 6, 5 and 7 points from 15 points to 9, 10 and 8 respectively. The subjects D and E made a negative response to the horticultural therapy class in the beginning and showed hostility toward the therapists. However, as the class round repeated, they often talked about their memories of the past after seeing various horticultural materials and became to change their attitude to positive one in the class. Out of this result, it is deemed that horticultural therapy through reminiscence and creation is effective to improve the self-integration and to decrease the depression of the elderly.

KeyWords: Flower arrangement, Horticultural activities, Planting, Self- expression, Terrarium