Study of Technology-Assisted Horticultural Therapy to Reduce Stress, Depression, and Improve Happiness in Older Adults in Long-Term Care

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore how technology-assisted horticultural therapy affects stress, depression, happiness, and heart rate variability among older adults living in long-term care facilities. It addresses gaps in current knowledge by focusing on the autonomic nervous systems role and seeks to combine traditional therapeutic practices with modern technology to improve well-being in the aging population. Participants will be assigned to either an experimental group receiving weekly 120-minute technology-assisted horticultural therapy sessions for 8 weeks or a control group receiving routine care without intervention. The study uses a cluster randomized controlled design with at least 38 participants in each group, ensuring balanced distribution and allowing comparison of effects over time. Throughout the 8-week study, data will be collected before, during, and after the intervention using surveys and objective heart rate measurements. Tools include the Mini-Mental State Examination, blood pressure monitoring, the Perceived Stress Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, WHO Well-Being Index, and a horticultural therapy evaluation form. Analysis will assess changes in heart rate variability, stress, depression, and happiness to inform future health promotion programs for older adults.

Effectiveness of Information Technology-Assisted Horticultural Therapy Program on Heart Rate Variability, Stress, Depression and Happiness Among Older Adults Resident in Long-Term Care Facilities