Evaluation of Horticultural Therapy for Enhancing Women's Well-Being: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial

Objectives: The current study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of a horticultural program specifically designed to improve the overall well-being of women in Hong Kong. Methods: A two-arm randomized waitlist-controlled trail was employed in the current study. A total of 208 adult female participants recruited from communities in Hong Kong attended the intervention. Participants' physical, mental and spiritual well-being were measured pre-, post and 2-month after the intervention. Results: In both within-group and between-group comparison, the physical health condition of participants showed no significant change, while substantial improvements were observed in both mental and spiritual well-being. Participants with high initial scores for depressive and anxiety symptoms experienced more significant enhancements across all body-mind-spirit dimensions. Clonclusions: This study provides robust evidence that the horticultural program significantly contributes to the holistic improvement of the body-mind-spirit well-being of the participants. It holds promise for broader application within community mental health service settings.