Effects of ACT-Based Agro-Healing Programs on Subjective Emotions: A Cross-Age Group Comparison

• 발행기관: 인간식물환경학회
• 저자명: Seo-Hyun Kim Hyo-Jung Son Sun-Mi Lee Min Sun Seong Sin-Ae Park Moongee Jeon
• 간행물 정보: 『인간식물환경학회지(JPPE)』제28권 제4호, 419~432쪽, 전체 14쪽
• 주제분류: 자연과학 > 자연과학일반
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2025.08.31

국문 초록

Background and objective: Rapid changes in modern society have intensified psychological and emotional challengesacross all age groups. This study examined the effects of a life cycle-based agro-healing program on children, adults, andolder adults. The program incorporated nature-based activities and the theoretical principles of Acceptance andCommitment Therapy (ACT), addressing age-specific issues: school bullying in children, job burnout in adults, andemotional isolation in older adults. The objective was to assess changes in emotional expression and psychologicalwell-being through engagement with nature. Methods: This study was conducted with 30 children, 21 adults, and 20 older adult participants. Over the course of eightweeks, they engaged in weekly 90-minute sessions tailored to their age groups. The activities, which were designed toalign with the six core processes of ACT, ranged from seed planting to herb garden creation. Emotional expression wasassessed through open-ended responses, which were analyzed using DEUS, a Korean text analysis system, to identifylinguistic and emotional changes. Results: Significant emotional changes were observed across all groups. Children exhibited simpler, but more stable,emotional language, indicating improved emotional regulation. Adults used more nuanced and articulate expressions,suggesting enhanced emotional awareness. Older adults displayed more structured and contextually rich, emotionalexpressions. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in emotional expression before and after the programacross all age groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The horticulture program, grounded in ACT and nature-based interaction, was found to effectively promoteemotional stability and psychological flexibility among children, adults, and older adults. The findings support the potentialof agro-healing as a meaningful intervention for enhancing emotional resilience and overall well-being across diverse agegroups, offering an alternative approach to addressing mental health needs in contemporary society.

목차

Introduction

Research Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

References

키워드

acceptance and commitment therapy emotional expression agro-healing lifespan intervention psychological well-being