Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress (2024)

Van Den Berg, A. E., & Custers, M. H. G. (2011). Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress. Journal of Health Psychology, 16(1), 3-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105310365577

Van Den Berg, Agnes E. ; Custers, Mariette H. G. / Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress. In: Journal of Health Psychology. 2011 ; Vol. 16, No. 1. pp. 3-11.

@article{825926b1e9454eeda2bc4cedba961cb9,

title = "Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress",

abstract = "Stress-relieving effects of gardening were hypothesized and tested in a field experiment. Thirty allotment gardeners performed a stressful Stroop task and were then randomly assigned to 30 minutes of outdoor gardening or indoor reading on their own allotment plot. Salivary cortisol levels and self-reported mood were repeatedly measured. Gardening and reading each led to decreases in cortisol during the recovery period, but decreases were significantly stronger in the gardening group. Positive mood was fully restored after gardening, but further deteriorated during reading. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that gardening can promote relief from acute stress.",

keywords = "activity, health promotion, intervention, lifestyle, well-being, PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY, SALIVARY CORTISOL, HEALTH, EXERCISE, DEPRESSION, LANDSCAPES, PREFERENCE, EXPOSURE, ADULTS, IMPACT",

author = "{Van Den Berg}, {Agnes E.} and Custers, {Mariette H. G.}",

year = "2011",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1177/1359105310365577",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

pages = "3--11",

journal = "Journal of Health Psychology",

issn = "1359-1053",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

number = "1",

}

Van Den Berg, AE & Custers, MHG 2011, 'Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress', Journal of Health Psychology, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 3-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105310365577

Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress. / Van Den Berg, Agnes E.; Custers, Mariette H. G.
In: Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 16, No. 1, 01.2011, p. 3-11.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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T1 - Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress

AU - Van Den Berg, Agnes E.

AU - Custers, Mariette H. G.

PY - 2011/1

Y1 - 2011/1

N2 - Stress-relieving effects of gardening were hypothesized and tested in a field experiment. Thirty allotment gardeners performed a stressful Stroop task and were then randomly assigned to 30 minutes of outdoor gardening or indoor reading on their own allotment plot. Salivary cortisol levels and self-reported mood were repeatedly measured. Gardening and reading each led to decreases in cortisol during the recovery period, but decreases were significantly stronger in the gardening group. Positive mood was fully restored after gardening, but further deteriorated during reading. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that gardening can promote relief from acute stress.

AB - Stress-relieving effects of gardening were hypothesized and tested in a field experiment. Thirty allotment gardeners performed a stressful Stroop task and were then randomly assigned to 30 minutes of outdoor gardening or indoor reading on their own allotment plot. Salivary cortisol levels and self-reported mood were repeatedly measured. Gardening and reading each led to decreases in cortisol during the recovery period, but decreases were significantly stronger in the gardening group. Positive mood was fully restored after gardening, but further deteriorated during reading. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that gardening can promote relief from acute stress.

KW - activity

KW - health promotion

KW - intervention

KW - lifestyle

KW - well-being

KW - PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY

KW - SALIVARY CORTISOL

KW - HEALTH

KW - EXERCISE

KW - DEPRESSION

KW - LANDSCAPES

KW - PREFERENCE

KW - EXPOSURE

KW - ADULTS

KW - IMPACT

U2 - 10.1177/1359105310365577

DO - 10.1177/1359105310365577

M3 - Article

SN - 1359-1053

VL - 16

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EP - 11

JO - Journal of Health Psychology

JF - Journal of Health Psychology

IS - 1

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Van Den Berg AE, Custers MHG. Gardening Promotes Neuroendocrine and Affective Restoration from Stress. Journal of Health Psychology. 2011 Jan;16(1):3-11. doi: 10.1177/1359105310365577