Scientific research shows us that being part of community and gardening groups provides significant benefits for both our physical and mental health. These include increased physical activity, improved dietary habits, enhanced wellbeing and social support, reduced stress and anxiety, better mood, and improved cognitive function and even lower mortality!
Lower Stress and Anxiety Participation in community groups, including gardening, has been linked to lower levels of stress and anxiety. A study published in Health & Place found that community gardening can provide a sense of belonging and reduce stress through social interactions and shared activities (Kingsley et al., 2009).
Improve Mood Engaging in community activities and gardening can positively affect mood and reduce symptoms of depression. Research published in The Journal of Positive Psychology highlights that community involvement and social interaction can lead to improvements in mood and reduced depressive symptoms (Berman et al., 2012).
Enhance Cognitive Function and Social Interaction Community gardening promotes cognitive engagement and social interaction, which are beneficial for mental health. A study in Journal of Environmental Psychology indicates that social interactions within community groups can stimulate cognitive function and improve overall mental health (Hartig et al., 2007).
Enhance Social Support and Well-being Being part of a community group provides social support, which is crucial for mental health. Research in Social Science & Medicine shows that social support from community involvement can reduce feelings of loneliness and improve overall mental well-being (Berkman et al., 2000).
Gardening as part of a community group encourages regular physical activity, which is beneficial for overall health. Research published in Preventive Medicine indicates that gardening activities contribute to increased physical activity levels, which can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and cardiovascular conditions (Pretty et al., 2005).
Improve Physical Health Outcomes Community gardening projects can lead to improved physical health by promoting healthy eating and physical exercise. A study in Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that participation in community gardens is associated with increased fruit and vegetable consumption, which contributes to better physical health (Gittleman et al., 2015).
Overall Benefits Being part of a community gardening group provides opportunities for social connection, which has broad mental and physical health benefits. Research published in American Journal of Public Health shows that social connectedness through community activities can lead to improved health outcomes and reduced mortality rates (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010).
