원예치료가 시각장애 노인의 우울 및 자아존중감에 미치는 효과

Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Depression and Self-esteem of Elderly Visual Disabilities

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of horticultural therapy on depression and self-esteem in visual disabilities at the elderly living. As one group pre-post designed trial, ten participants (5 males, 5 females) were recruited to participate in 12 horticultural activity programs within 3 months. The programs were implemented through assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. Participants were assessed before and after the programs using Korean version of the self-rating depression (SDS), the self-esteem scale (SES), and the evaluation of horticultural activity. There were significant differences in change scores of the SDS and the SES between pre and post program. Also, the SDS showed a negative correlation with the SES. ‘Participation (P)’, ‘interest and assistance (IA)’, and ‘need-drive adaptation (NA)’ in horticultural activities increased significantly. ‘Interpersonal and social relations (IS)’ and ‘life-tasks skill and vocational adjustment (LV)’ tended to increase. In correlation analysis, the change scores of LV showed correlated with those of depression, NA, and IS. The change scores of NA showed correlated with those of depression, LV, IS, and IA. But the change scores of P did not show correlated with those of depression, LV and NA. In multi-regression analysis, the result showed that depression could be predicted by LA and P significantly. As a result, the horticulture activity programs were effective in reducing depression and improving self-esteem in visual disabilities at the elderly living, and especially LA and P were very important factors to reduce depression.