Gardening Grows Quality of Life

Aime J. Sommerfeld, from Texas A&M (Texas, USA) and colleagues surveyed 298 men and women, ages 50 years and older, who either engaged in gardening or not, for perceptions of personal life satisfaction. The researchers found significant differences in overall life satisfaction scores, with gardeners receiving higher mean scores (indicating more positive results) on the standardized survey.   Significant differences between gardeners and nongardeners were also noted in the ''energy level'' statement, to which gardeners disagreed with the sentiment of “feeling old and somewhat tired” at a rate of 70.9%, whereas 57.3% of nongardeners disagreed with the statement. Older adults who garden also reported a higher level of daily physical activity compared to nongardening respondents. Over three times as many nongardeners (14.71%) considered themselves to be "quite inactive.", while only 4.43% of gardener said the same. "Almost twice as many gardeners (38%) considered themselves to be "very active" compared with only 19.6% of nongardeners", noted the study.  More than 75% of gardeners who participated in the survey rated their health as either ''very good'' or ''excellent'. Gardeners also reported eating more fruit and vegetables because of their exposure to gardening.