Horticultural activity improves postpartum women’s cognitive function: Preliminary evidence from an exploratory pilot study

Postpartum can lead to cognitive impairment as well as mental health problems. To prevent these symptoms from getting worse, there needs to be a care method that the mother can easily implement while the infant is nearby. This exploratory pilot study examined that cognitive function improves with horticultural activity. Fifteen healthy women less than one year postpartum participated in this study. They participated in eight sessions of horticultural activity. Psychological tests were administered to assess participants’ mental health and cognitive functioning before and after gardening activities. Compared with before gardening activity, the trail making test (TMT)-A and TMT-B were significantly decreased, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test was significantly increased. Also, the scores for the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and anger-hostility, confusion-bewilderment, fatigue-inertia, tension-anxiety, Total Mood Disturbance of the Profile of Mood States 2 was significantly decreased, respectively. Vigor-activity and friendliness of the Profile of Mood States 2 were significantly increased. Given these positive benefits, horticultural activity may improve mental health and cognitive functions in postpartum women and may provide a great contribution to postpartum women’s healthy life.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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