THERAPEUTIC GARDENING FOR DEPRESSION REDUCTION AMONG FEMALE HOME-BASED WORKERS IN URBAN PERIPHERIES
Keywords:
Depression, Female, Gardening, Home-based Work, Mental Health, Randomized Controlled Trial, Social ConnectednessAbstract
Background: Women engaged in home-based work in urban peripheries often face elevated risks of depression due to social isolation, economic stress, and limited access to mental health resources. Nature-based interventions, such as therapeutic gardening, have been proposed as strategies to improve emotional wellbeing and strengthen social connectedness, but rigorous evidence in low-resource urban contexts remains scarce.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of structured horticultural activities in reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing social connectedness among female home-based workers.
Methods: A six-month randomized controlled trial was conducted in South Punjab involving 120 women aged 18–55 years engaged in home-based employment. Participants were randomized into an intervention group (n=60) receiving ten weeks of structured therapeutic gardening sessions, and a control group (n=60) continuing routine activities. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and social connectedness was assessed using the Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCS-R). Data analysis included paired and independent t-tests, along with ANCOVA to adjust for baseline differences, with significance set at p<0.05.
Results: Participants in the intervention group showed significant reductions in depression scores (mean change −5.8) compared to minimal changes in the control group (−0.8; p=0.001). Social connectedness increased markedly in the intervention group (mean change +11.4) versus controls (+1.2; p=0.001). Adjusted analyses confirmed significant intervention effects, with mean differences of −4.9 for PHQ-9 and +9.8 for SCS-R. Session attendance exceeded 85%, indicating high feasibility and participant engagement.
Conclusion: Structured therapeutic gardening effectively improves mental health and social connectedness among female home-based workers in urban peripheries. The intervention provides a practical, low-cost, and culturally acceptable approach to supporting mental wellbeing in resource-limited urban settings.
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