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We aimed to derive data that can serve as the basis for designing customized therapeutic farming programs (TFPs) for different life stages by collecting information regarding the mental health status and perceptions of therapeutic farming (TF). We created a survey encompassing individual mental health conditions, general perceptions and participation, demand, and policy requirements regarding TF. By targeting children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in the metropolitan area of South Korea, we collected 505 surveys online and face-to-face. Children and adolescents had worse mental health management than adults and older adults. More than half of the respondents reported experiencing stress and depressive symptoms. Regarding perceptions of TF, compared with other age groups, older adults were more likely to believe in the mental health benefits of plants. Additionally, those with relatively lower stress, depression, and anxiety levels agreed on these benefits. The primary purposes and expected activities regarding TFP participation differed by age group. However, pets and small farm animals were the most preferred animals for TF across all age groups. When promoting TF, children and adolescents prioritized improved introduction and promotion, whereas adults and older adults prioritized improved accessibility. These data can help develop customized TFPs for different life stages as well as the general public.

This study measured and compared the psychophysiological and psychological differences in the responses of men and women to olfactory stimuli from herbal plants. A total of 30 adult participants (mean age, 27.4 years; SD, ±8.97 years; 15 men and 15 women) were included and five different herbs were used: lavender, rosemary, sage, apple mint, and pelargonium. During olfactory activity, participants smelled each herb for 90 seconds while relying solely on their sense of smell and electroencephalography was used to measure brain wave changes. Subsequently, participants’ emotional states were assessed using the semantic differential method (SDM). The results indicated significant differences in the relative alpha, relative slow alpha, and relative low alpha frequencies in the prefrontal lobe (Fp1 and Fp2) for both genders (P < 0.05). Significant gender differences were observed in the relative beta, relative middle beta, ratio of sensorimotor rhythms-mid beta to theta frequencies in the occipital lobe (O1 and O2) (P < 0.05). The SDM results showed significant natural emotional responses in both genders after olfactory stimulation with herbal plants. Furthermore, compared with men, women exhibited more natural emotions to sage, apple mint, and pelargonium olfactory stimulation. These findings affirm the calming effects of olfactory stimulation with herbal plants for both genders, thus underscoring gender differences in preferences and psychological responses.

The underlying therapeutic mechanisms of care farming activities have not been addressed using psychophysiological data. We aimed to understand frontal cortex activation in adults during care farming activities and to explore the psychophysiological effects. Using a randomized crossover study method, 20 adults (average age, 31.3 ± 9.8 years) participated in 10 care farming activities, (four gardening activities, three animal-mediated activities, and three off-farming activities) for 3 minutes each at an actual care farm. Electroencephalography (EEG) was performed during the activity, and emotional states were assessed using subjective emotional questionnaires after each activity. The EEG results revealed that alpha activity increased during gardening activities, such as organizing garden plots and planting plants. Spectral edge frequency 50, which predicts the degree of arousal, increased during interaction with dogs. The results of the subjective emotional questionnaire revealed that participants experienced positive emotions, such as vigor, comfort, naturalness, and relaxation, when participating in care farming activities compared with those while resting. Therefore, this study suggests that care farming activities can induce changes in the frontal cortex activation and positive emotional states in participants. This study elucidates the use of such activities to address mental health-related issues.

Visual stimuli from green plants have positive effects on mental health. This study aimed to compare human responses to varying plant types [live, artificial, two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) plant models] as visual stimuli. Thirty adults (age, 29.9 ± 11.5 years) viewed each plant form while an electroencephalography (EEG) measured their brain activity. Psychological responses were assessed using the semantic differential method (SDM). No significant differences were observed among visual stimuli; however, brain activity differences varied between male and female participants. Males who observed live and artificial plants had a higher relative alpha (RA) spectrum (RAS) and relative fast alpha (RFA) spectrum frequencies at Fp1 and Fp2 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 vs. P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), indicating greater emotional stability. Similarly, male participants who viewed 2D models had higher RA and RFA frequencies at Fp1 (P < 0.01, P < 0.01) and Fp2 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Male participants who observed 3D models exhibited higher RA, RSA, and RFA frequencies at Fp1 (P < 0.01). Live and artificial plants were deemed the most calming (P < 0.01). Both sexes found live plants to be the most pleasant (males: P < 0.01; females: P < 0.05) and natural (males: P < 0.001; females: P < 0.01). Overall, alpha wave differences were not significant among plant types, and live plants elicited a trend toward emotional stability. These findings suggest that 3D plant models can be as effective as real plants in psychophysiological applications, indicating their potential benefits for enhancing mental health in urban environments.

This study aimed to investigate the psychophysiological effects of horticultural activities on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to understand how horticultural activities can influence mental health and cognitive function. This study involved 39 adults with an average age of 54.6 years (±12.5 years) and was conducted in a laboratory setting at Konkuk University. The impact of five different types of horticultural activities—sowing, transplanting, planting, harvesting, and packaging—on PFC oxyhemoglobin (oxy-HB) concentrations was assessed. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to measure oxy-HB levels in the PFC while participants engaged in each activity for 90 seconds. The results indicated that the overall PFC oxy-HB concentration was at its lowest during planting and at its highest during sowing (P < 0.001). In the right PFC, oxy-HB was also at its lowest during planting and at its highest during sowing (P < 0.01). In the left PFC, the lowest oxy-HB concentrations were observed during both planting and harvesting, whereas the highest oxy-HB concentrations were observed during transplanting and sowing (P < 0.001). Additionally, sex-based differences were noted, with females showing significantly lower oxy-HB concentrations during sowing (P < 0.05) and transplanting (P < 0.01) than those of males. These findings suggested that psychophysiological responses, as indicated by oxy-HB concentrations, vary depending on the type of horticultural activity and by sex.

Green care activities are associated with lower intensity and a lower risk of injury than agricultural activities aimed at producing agricultural and livestock products; however, the risk of health problems cannot be completely ruled out. To implement green care interventions to improve physical health, it is essential to identify the green care activity levels and biomechanical characteristics of the movements that are appropriate for each subject’s physical functions and goals. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the muscle activation of the upper and lower limbs during 19 green care farming activities. We used electromyography signals, which are biomedical signals that measure the action potentials generated in the muscles and nervous system when the muscles contract, to evaluate the muscle activation. Twenty adults (aged 29.9 ± 9.6 years) participated in this study. Participants performed 19 green care farming activities, including horticultural activity, animal-mediated, and off-farming activities. The participants performed each activity three times. The electromyography data were assessed using surface electromyography during activities to measure muscle activation. As a result, 16 upper and lower limb muscles were activated during the green care farming activities, which showed significantly different muscle activation by care farming activity. As a result of the comparison of muscle activity according to each muscle, many of the muscles of the upper and lower limbs were most activated during organizing a garden plot, transplanting plants, and collecting natural objects. In conclusion, the electromyography data obtained during this study suggest that green care farming interventions may be effective for training specific muscles of the upper and lower limbs.

This study investigated whether coding (computer programming) and horticultural activities alone and combined have psychophysiological and psychological effects. Compulsory computer programming has been required in elementary schools in South Korea since 2018. A total of 34 participants, who were students between the ages of 11 and 16 years were involved in the study. Participants undertook the following activities in random order: connecting components, coding, horticultural activities, and combining coding and horticultural activities (run program, horticultural activities, and coding modifications). Brain waves were measured during the activity, and a subjective self-report evaluation was conducted at the end of each activity. In a spectral edge frequency of 50% of the alpha spectrum band, which indicates a comfortable, stable, and relaxed state, there was a significant difference in the left prefrontal pole when participants performed a combination of coding and horticultural activities (P < 0.001). In addition, there were significant differences in the coding activities based on horticultural activities (P < 0.05, P < 0.001), with a relatively low beta, indicating attention and alertness; relative mid beta, indicating active awareness; ratio of SMR to theta, indicating focused attention; and the ratio of mid beta to theta, indicating concentrated focus. It is judged that activities involving plant engagement can contribute to comfort, stability, focused attention, and positive effects in response to active stimuli. As a result of a subjective evaluation, it was found that horticultural activities had a positive effect on participants’ emotions (P < 0.01). This study demonstrates that horticulture-based coding activities have a positive impact on physiological relaxation and cognitive enhancement, and are also associated with subjectively reported positive emotions.

This study investigated the activity of upper- and lower-extremity muscles for 15 agricultural tasks of agro-healing. For the development of an agro-healing program using farm resource types, 15 selected agro-healing activities (namely, digging, raking, fertilizing, planting transplants, tying plants to stakes, watering, harvesting, washing, cutting, cooking, collecting natural objects, decorating natural objects, interacting with dogs, walking dogs, and feeding fish) were extracted and performed in a total of 21 adults (average age: 42.29 ± 14.76 years) at D Care Farm in Cheongju, Korea, from June to July 2022. Before these activities, informed consent was obtained from participants and muscle activity of the upper and lower extremities was measured. Muscle activation during activity performance was measured using electromyography (EMG), and the rating of perceived exertion for each activity was investigated. Bipolar surface EMG electrodes were attached at 16 locations on the left and right upper-extremity muscles (anterior deltoid, biceps brachialis, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris) and lower-extremity muscles (vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius). The results indicated that the activity of the lower-extremity muscles was higher than that of the upper-extremity muscles during 15 agricultural activities. During plant-mediated activity and animal-assisted activities, the rate of right muscle use was higher than that of left muscle use among the upper-extremity muscles, whereas the rate of right and left muscle use showed a similar tendency among the lower-extremity muscles. During plant-mediated activities, agricultural activities involving the use of heavy tools highly activated the right forearm muscle (flexor carpi ulnaris), whereas holding and interacting with animals highly activated the left forearm muscles (biceps brachialis, brachioradialis, and flexor carpi ulnaris). It is expected that the EMG data obtained in this study can be used as basic biomechanical data when designing an agro-healing program to improve physical function.

To align with global trends and the swift pace of technological advancements, it is imperative to consistently update the professional standards and curriculum for horticultural therapists to meet evolving professional demands. This study used the developing a curriculum (DACUM) method to analyze the tasks and duties of Korean horticultural therapists and subsequently tailor a specialized training program for them. First, 11 experts in the horticultural therapy field participated in workshops to develop a DACUM chart that included the definitions, tasks, knowledge, skills, and attitudes of horticultural therapists. A job performance evaluation survey for horticultural therapists was also developed through these workshops. The 300 participants of the online survey were members of the Korea Horticultural Therapy and Welfare Association. The survey consisted of a 5-point Likert scale of the current performance level and future requirement level for each qualification grade. Demographic information and responses to each question were computed using a frequency analysis and percentages, grade-specific task performance evaluations comprised a one-way batch analysis of variance, and statistical significance levels were set to P < 0.05. The horticulture professional curriculum was based on competencies derived from the job analysis and online conferences with 10 professionals who participated in the DACUM workshops. The job analysis results revealed six duties with a total of 32 tasks. The results of the job performance evaluation showed that there was a great demand for the development of their convergence capabilities. Accordingly, in response to these results, new interdisciplinary convergence fields such as horticultural therapy and science (information technology), horticultural therapy, and humanities education were introduced into the specialized training. The results of this study will be valuable for improving the skills and expertise of horticulture therapists to meet social needs.