The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of horticultural therapy program focused on cultivation activities for prisoners scheduled to be released on depression and salivary cortisol. 37 adult male prisoners were participated. Experimental group of 18members received a horticultural therapy program and control group of 19 members did not receive a horticultural therapy program. And this study was performed from 7 th of April 2012 to 12 th of July 2012. It was based on 'conceptual frame of psychological outcome model in horticultural therapy for prisoners scheduled for release'. As the results, depression level of the experimental group decreased significantly after horticultural therapy (p=0.006), while in control group was not showed significant (p=0.438). On salivary cortisol level of the experimental group decreased significantly after horticultural therapy (p=0.013), while it was not found significant difference in the control group (p=0.776). Therefore horticultural therapy program focused on cultivation activities could be utilized as appropriate rehabilitation program for decrease of depression and cortisol in prisoners scheduled to be released in future.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of horticultural therapy program focused on cultivation activities for male juvenile prisoners on mental health. 27 male juvenile prisoners were participated. Experimental group of 13members received a horticultural therapy program and control group of 14 members did not receive a horticultural therapy program. And this study was performed from 22 th of April 2013 to 8 th of July 2013. 'Horticultural therapy program focused on cultivation activities(Lee et al., 2013)' which was based on 'conceptual frame of psychological outcome model in horticultural therapy for prisoners scheduled for release(Rural Development Administration, 2012)' was applied. As the results, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety level of the experimental group decreased significantly after horticultural therapy (p=0.033, 0.041), while in control group was not showed significant on 9 domains of symptom. Therefore horticultural therapy program focused on cultivation activities could be utilized as appropriate rehabilitation program for increase of mental health in male juvenile prisoners in future.