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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07826013

The Effect of Horticultural Therapy on Anxiety and Quality of Life

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of a horticultural therapy program on anxiety levels in older adults and to evaluate the impact of this therapy on quality of life. The study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study using a pre-test-post-test design.

Research Hypotheses Hypothesis 1: Horticultural therapy reduces anxiety levels in older adults. Hypothesis 2: Horticultural therapy improves the overall quality of life in older adults.

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Key information

Conditions

Horticultural Therapy Anxiety Disorders Mental Disorders

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Hasan Kalyoncu Universty

Gaziantep, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Participants in the intervention and control groups were administered a pretest consisting of the Demographic Information Form, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-Brief Form (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Geriatric Anxiety Scale. In the study, older adults in the intervention group participated in gardening activities once a week on Wednesdays throughout the week, under the guidance of an expert academic in the field. No intervention was applied to the control group, which continued with its routine activities. In accordance with the horticultural therapy protocol, academic support and guidance were sought from Prof. Dr. Hakan Yıldırım, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, regarding the organization and preparation of the planting area and the implementation of gardening activities for the intervention group. In this study, the horticultural therapy program was implemented not as a psychotherapeutic intervention but as a non-pharmacological nursing intervention based on the literature, involving structured plant planting, care, and gardening activities.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Volunteer to participate in horticultural therapy activities.

Exclusion criteria

  • People with an acute illness or a severe physical disability.
  • Those who are reluctant to participate in horticultural therapy.
  • Individuals who are unable to participate regularly in the program.

Treatment and study plan

Horticultural Therapy Practice Group

Behavioral

The Effect of Horticultural Therapy on Anxiety and Quality of Life in Older Adults

Primary outcomes

  1. Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS)

    Time frame: Week 0

    A 30-item self-report scale developed to assess symptoms of anxiety in older adults, comprising somatic, cognitive, and affective subdimensions.Although there is no reverse scoring on the scale, each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 3. The items on the scale are scored on a 4-point Likert scale as "Never (0)," "Sometimes (1)," "Most of the time (2)," and "Always (3)." Somatic (physical) subscale-1, 6, 7, 15, 19, 20, 21 (9 items); Cognitive Subscale-2, 3, 10, 14, 16, 17, 22, 23 (8 items); Mood Subscale-4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 18 (8 items). For the total score, only the scores of the first 23 items are summed; the scale ranges from a low score of 0 to a high score of 69. According to the scale results, a high score indicates a high level of anxiety.

  2. Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS)

    Time frame: Week 12

    A 30-item self-report scale developed to assess symptoms of anxiety in older adults, comprising somatic, cognitive, and affective subdimensions.Although there is no reverse scoring on the scale, each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 3. The items on the scale are scored on a 4-point Likert scale as "Never (0)," "Sometimes (1)," "Most of the time (2)," and "Always (3)." Somatic (physical) subscale-1, 6, 7, 15, 19, 20, 21 (9 items); Cognitive Subscale-2, 3, 10, 14, 16, 17, 22, 23 (8 items); Mood Subscale-4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 18 (8 items). For the total score, only the scores of the first 23 items are summed; the scale ranges from a low score of 0 to a high score of 69. According to the scale results, a high score indicates a high level of anxiety.

  3. World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form-Turkish Version (WHOQOL-BREF-TR)

    Time frame: Week 0

    Developed by the World Health Organization, this scale is a comprehensive measure that assesses the well-being of older adults and enables cross-cultural comparisons. The WHOQOL-BREF scale consists of a total of 26 questions, including two questions-one regarding overall perceived quality of life and the other regarding perceived health status-and is composed of four main domains: physical, psychological, social relationships, and environmental. While the scale does not have an overall total score, each section and domain is scored on a scale of up to 20 points or 100 points.

  4. World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form-Turkish Version (WHOQOL-BREF-TR)

    Time frame: Week 12

    Developed by the World Health Organization, this scale is a comprehensive measure that assesses the well-being of older adults and enables cross-cultural comparisons. The WHOQOL-BREF scale consists of a total of 26 questions, including two questions-one regarding overall perceived quality of life and the other regarding perceived health status-and is composed of four main domains: physical, psychological, social relationships, and environmental. While the scale does not have an overall total score, each section and domain is scored on a scale of up to 20 points or 100 points.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hasan Kalyoncu University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Horticultural Therapy on Anxiety and Quality of Life in Older Adults

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Sep 17, 2026
Registry last updated
Sep 22, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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