Page 37 - THEi Student Applied Research Presentations 2024

THE EFFECT OF HORTICULTURAL ACTIVITIES
ON STRESS AND SOCIAL INTERACTION

ANXIETY ON COLLEGE STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Poster

RESEARCH BACKGROUND

Horticulture therapy is an approach that uses plants as a medium to improve human
physical and mental health. The mental health status of college students has become a
worry in recent years as student suicide cases have increased. More than 9% of them
were college students, with academic and interpersonal relationships being the most
perplexing problems for them (The University of Hong Kong, 2023). Moreover, students
have interpersonal difficulties and anxieties after the 3-year outbreak of COVID-19. CHEUNG YAN TUNG
Since the pandemic has limited social activities, students have all switched to online
study and have not had face-to-face lessons. It has limited students' opportunities BSc (Hons) in Nutrition and Healthcare
for interaction with others, affecting their social abilities. When school resumed post- Management
COVID, they have to deal with interpersonal difficulties and anxiety problems. As a
result, college students' mental health and interpersonal abilities are affected. It can Department of Food and Health
be seen that college students need assistance in terms of mental health and social Sciences
aspects.

METHODOLOGY OBJECTIVES
A quasi-experimental study is utilized. The study has an experimental group conducted
horticultural activities and a control group. Participants in the experimental group are This research aims to investigate the
required to attend a six-week horticultural activities programme, and every session reduction of stress and to find out the
lasts 90 minutes. The pre-and post-intervention is used, and the outcome is measured effect of horticultural activities on social
in the first and last lessons. The Chinese 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and anxiety in college students.
Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) is be used to estimate the outcome.

FINDINGS
The group conducted horticultural activities presented reduced social anxiety compared
to the control group. But there were no statistically significant differences in the stress
level as the sample size was too small. Therefore, further study should increase the
sample size to investigate the effectiveness of horticultural activities on stress and
social anxiety.

ABOUT THE INVESTIGATOR

My name is CHEUNG Yan Tung, and I am currently a Year 4 student in the Department
of Food and Health Sciences, specializing in Nutrition and Healthcare Management. My
supervisor is Dr LIU Wai Ching for my Final Year Project.
Besides my academic activities, I am interested in reading novels and listening to music,
which helps me unwind and broaden my horizons. My career goal is to contribute to the
medical field by applying the knowledge and skills I have gained through my program.

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