Studies from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Provide New Data on Psychology and Psychiatry (The Pathways and Efficacy of Horticultural Therapy In Promoting College Students' Mental Health: an Explanatory Sequential...).

This article focuses on a study conducted by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China in Chengdu, investigating the effectiveness of horticultural therapy (HT) in improving college students' mental health. Using a sequential mixed-methods design, 112 students were assigned to either an HT intervention group, which participated in activities like flower arranging and herbal tea tasting, or a control group. Results showed that the HT group experienced significant improvements in life satisfaction, sense of meaning in life, and affect balance compared to controls, supported by both psychological scales and facial expression analysis. Qualitative analysis identified a four-layer psychological pathway—environment, cognition, emotion, and behavior—through which HT exerts its effects. The study concludes that horticultural therapy is an effective nature-based intervention for enhancing mental health among college students. [Extracted from the article]