Health Benefits of Urban Allotment Gardening: Improved Physical and Psychological Well-Being and Social Integration

Abstract

With an ever-increasing urban population, promoting public health and well-being in towns and cities is a major challenge. Previous research has suggested that participating in allotment gardening delivers a wide range of health benefits. However, evidence from quantitative analyses is still scarce. Here, we quantify the effects, if any, of participating in allotment gardening on physical, psychological and social health. A questionnaire survey of 332 people was performed in Tokyo, Japan. We compared five self-reported health outcomes between allotment gardeners and non-gardener controls: perceived general health, subjective health complaints, body mass index (BMI), mental health and social cohesion. Accounting for socio-demographic and lifestyle variables, regression models revealed that allotment gardeners, compared to non-gardeners, reported better perceived general health, subjective health complaints, mental health and social cohesion. BMI did not differ between gardeners and non-gardeners. Neither frequency nor duration of gardening significantly influenced reported health outcomes. Our results highlight that regular gardening on allotment sites is associated with improved physical, psychological and social health. With the recent escalation in the prevalence of chronic diseases, and associated healthcare costs, this study has a major implication for policy, as it suggests that urban allotments have great potential for preventative healthcare.

Typically Diverse: The Nature of Urban Agriculture in South Australia

“…Some home food gardeners may view their time and money as worthwhile resources to spend in exchange for engaging in other sustainable behaviors, such as composting their food and garden wastes or caring for the environment by growing food organically. Of course, there are also the well-documented social, mental, health, and education benefits associated with engaging in and practicing UA [55][56][57][58][59][60].…”

Factors that Affect Nonmarket Fruit and Vegetable Receptions: Analyses of Two Cross-Sectional Surveys in Gunma, Japan

“…In addition, when analyzed with non-growers alone, the β values of area, family structure, and social cohesion were greater than when analyzed as a whole. It is already well known that FV growing increases FV intake among growers and their family members [8][9][10][11][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Apart from this, the results suggest that FV growing increases FV intake not only among those growing FV (or their family members) but also among their neighbors.…”

“…In this study, we identified the factors affecting the FV receiving frequency. In previous studies, the characteristics and motivations of those engaged in FV gardening [20,[23][24][25] were reported. Furthermore, in the context of obtaining locally-grown produce, the motivations and characteristics were reported by using farmers' markets [35][36][37][38].…”

Beyond Productivity: Considering the Health, Social Value and Happiness of Home and Community Food Gardens

“…The combined results from this research regarding health and wellbeing, social connection and happiness support the premise that engagement in home or community food gardening may provide a preventative or supportive role for gardeners' health and wellbeing, regardless of whether it is a conscious motivation for participation. Soga, Cox, Yamaura, Gaston, Kurisu, and Hanaki [18] and Wood, Pretty and Griffin [19] also advocate engaging in urban agriculture as a form of preventative healthcare: encompassing general health, mental health, and social health. We recommend two key areas for future research, (1) food waste and whether self-grown food is more highly valued than store-bought food and thus is wasted less, and (2) how the non-monetary benefits of UA compare with the costs or benefits of food gardening measured in other ways, such as productivity.…”