新冠疫情讓大家留在了家裡，也提供了時間和機會建造你的花園。許多人將有機會第一次接觸花園和園藝活動，有更多的時間享受園藝的樂趣。國際園藝生產者協會AIPH提供的證據，用科學證明園藝活動將在保持社會幸福和健康方面發揮重要作用。
大自然對健康的深遠益處
★有越來越多的經驗證據表明，身處自然對心理健康的價值。最近的一篇論文強調了自然體驗對認知功能、幸福感和其他心理健康方面的益處。[1]
★與城市相比，在大自然中度過的時間可以減少精神疲勞、改善情緒和減少壓力。[2]
★在大自然中散步40分鐘的人，比在城市裡散步，或是靜靜地坐著聽音樂的人情緒更積極，憤怒更少。[3]
★在荷蘭，每增加10%的綠地面積，就意味著大眾健康狀況普遍年輕5歲。[4]
★在加拿大，住宅綠地面積的增加與4年內死亡率的下降相對應，尤其是與呼吸系統疾病相關的死亡率。[5]
★在日本，生活在有綠道地區人被證明可增加相當於5年的壽命。[6]
★居住在有更多綠色空間的城市地區，人們的精神壓力更低，幸福感更高。[7]
★在綠色空間學習和治療，有助於提升生活的意義和目的感。[8]
★與在城市散步相比，在大自然中散步可以減少焦慮以及負面情緒。[9] [10]
★自然的體驗有助於改善睡眠，尤其是對男性和65歲以上的人來說。[11] [12]
★我們的非視覺感受，如聲音、嗅覺、味覺、觸覺也會受到自然的激發。[13]
園藝活動促進身心健康
★經常做園藝活動可以改善健康。比如減少抑鬱、焦慮，降低體重指數，以及提高生活滿意度、生活質量和社會意識。[14]
★園藝提供了一種創造性的方式，將壓力和沮喪轉化為舒適和快樂。[15]
★“積極園藝”活動減少抑鬱和焦慮，增強心理和身體健康。[16]
★與綠色環境相關的健康益處包括：長期減少患心臟病、癌症、肌肉骨骼疾病的風險，以及降低肥胖水平和更高的自我心理健康評估水平。[17]
★花園對於疾病的康復很重要。[17]
★園藝活動可以緩解高度緊張的注意力，並加快恢復到輕鬆狀態。[15] [16] [17]
★植物不僅僅是美麗的。花園和植物的自然節律可以對抗壓力。花園自帶安靜祥和的氛圍，花園能激發創造力，種植植物能讓人感到滿足和自豪。[18]
★花園和園藝活動與生活本身親密聯繫，它可以賦予老年人生活的目的和意義。[15] [19]
簡單看看綠色植物就能讓人心生平靜
★在壓力下和壓力恢復階段，看看自然的綠色植物就可以達到放鬆的目的。[18]
★即使只是透過窗戶看到大自然和綠色植物也會使病患壓力更小，有更好的心情，對疼痛和不適的關注更少。[20]
★即使在自然環境中暴露五分鐘，或模擬自然環境，也能減少血壓升高、肌肉緊張和皮膚敏感性增加等壓力症狀。[21]
★從家裡看到綠色環境能夠降低壓力荷爾蒙皮質激素，創造幸福感 [22] [23]
★對於那些不願與大自然接觸的兒童和老人來說，綠色植物的益處尤為重要。[24]
參考文獻
[1] Bratman G.N. et al. 2019. Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Sci Adv. 2019 Jul; 5(7): eaax0903. Published online 2019 Jul 24. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aax0903
[2] Twedt, E., et al. 2016. "Designed Natural Spaces: Informal Gardens Are Perceived to Be More Restorative than Formal Gardens." Frontiers in Psychology 7.
[3] Hartig, T., Evans, G.W., Jamnerc, L. D., Davis, D. S., and Garling, T. 2003. Tracking restoration in natural and urban field. Journal of Environmental Psychology 23 (2003) 109–123
[4] De Vries S, Verheij RA, Groenewegen PP, Spreeuwenberg P. 2003. ‘Natural environments –healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between greenspace and health’. Environment and Planning A, vol 35, no 10, pp 1717–31.
[5] Villeneuve, P. J., Jerrett, M., Su, J. G., Burnett, R. T., Chen, H., Wheeler, A. J., and Goldberg M. S. 2012. A cohort study relating urban green space with mortality in Ontario, Canada. Environ Res. 2012 May;115:51-8. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2012.03.003. Epub 2012 Apr 6
[6] Takano, T., Nakamura, K., and Watanabe, M. 2002. ‘Urban residential environments and senior citizens’ longevity in megacity areas: the importance of walkable green spaces’. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, vol 56, no 12, pp 913–8.
[7] White M. P., Alcock I., Wheeler B. W., and Depledge M. H. 2013. Would you be happier living in a greener urban area? A fixed-effects analysis of panel data. Psychol. Sci. 24(6):920-8
[8] O'Brien, L., Burls, A., Townsend, M., and Ebden, M. 2011. Volunteering in nature as a way of enabling people to reintegrate into society. Perspectives in public health. 131(2).7-81.
[9] Bratman, G. N., Daily, G. C., Levy, B. J., and Gross J.J. 2015. The benefits of nature experience: Improved affect and cognition. Landsc. Urban Plan. 138, 41–50.
[10] Hartig, T., Evans, G. W., Jamner, L., Davis, D., and Gärling, T. 2003. Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings. J. Environ. Psychol. 23, 109–123.
[11] Grigsby-Toussaint, D. S., Turi, K. N., Krupa, M., Williams, N. J., Pandi-Perumal, S. R., and Jean-Louis, G. 2015. Sleep insufficiency and the natural environment: Results from the US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. Prev. Med. 78, 78–84.
[12] Astell-Burt T., and Feng, X. 2019 Does sleep grow on trees? A longitudinal study to investigate potential prevention of insufficient sleep with different types of urban green space. SSM Popul Health.;10:100497. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2019.100497.
[13] Franco, L.S., Shanahan, D.F., and Fuller, R. A. 2017. A Review of the Benefits of Nature Experiences: More Than Meets the Eye. Int J Environ Res Public Health.
[14] (8): 864 14 Soga, M., Gaston, K., and Yuichi, Y. 2016. "Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis." Preventive Medicine Reports. 10.1016/j. pmedr.2016.11.007
[15] Hall, Charles R., and Dickson, Madeleine W. 2011. Economic, Environmental, and Health/Well-Being Benefits Associated with Green Industry Products and Services: Journal of Environmental Horticulture 29(2):96–103.
[16] Clatworthy, J., Hinds, J., Camic, P. M. 2013. Gardening as a mental health intervention: a review. Mental Health Review Journal.18(4):214-225.
[17] Buck, D. 2016. Gardens and Health: Implications for policy and practice. The Kings Fund
[18] AIPH http://aiph.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/7_AIPH-Brochure-more-than-just-beautiful.pdf
[19] Wright, S. D., Wadsworth, A. M. 2014. ‘Gray and green revisited: a multidisciplinary perspective of gardens, gardening, and the aging process’. Journal of Aging Research, vol 2014, article 283682.
[20] The Green Agenda Fact sheets: Greenery and Healthcare. https://edepot.wur.nl/418845
[21] Brown, D. K., Barton, J. L., and Gladwell, V. F. 2013. Viewing Nature Scenes Positively Affects Recovery of Autonomic Function Following Acute-Mental Stress Environ Sci Technol. 47(11): 5562–5569.
[22] The Green Agenda Fact sheets: Greenery and Residential. https://edepot.wur.nl/418848
[23] Honold, J., Lakes T., Beyer, R., and van der Meer, E. 2016. Restoration in Urban Spaces: Nature views from home, greenways, and public parks. Environment and Behaviour. 48(6), 796-825.
[24] Mitchell, R., and Popham, F. 2008. Effect of exposure to natural environment on health equalities: an observational population study. The Lancet. 372 (9650), 1655-1660.
閱讀更多 中國花卉園藝雜誌 的文章
