Benefits of Gardening Supported by Information Technology for Older Adults

The paper presents a study performed in Italy evaluating the impact of social gardening for older adults, supported by a gardening and community mobile app and connected soil sensors. We conducted a pre- and post-test field trial with older adult volunteers (n=41) with organized gardening sessions. Standardized and ad hoc questionnaires were employed to measure changes in volunteers’ mental and psychological states. The statistical data analysis used t-tests, repeated measures MANOVA tests and logistic regression to find differences in, and predictors for, the pre- and post-testvalues of the key scores related to the perceived quality of life, cognitive functions, dietary habits and system usability. We found significant improvements in the cognitive functions, the perceived benefits of gardening and in the WHO Quality of Life (QOL) instruments, and a decrease in the fruit/vegetable consumption. The improvements in QOL were associated with the measured self-esteem, while cognitive improvement, measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale, was linked with higher commitment. Digital skills also improved and lasting social relationships formed during the trial. The observed results confirmed the positive effect of gardening on quality of life, thus justifying the viability of social gardening for older adults.