Participation in gardening activity and its association with improved mental health among family caregivers of people with dementia in rural Uganda.

Journal: Preventive medicine reports

Volume: 23

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Mental Health, Kabale University School of Medicine, Kabale, Uganda. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Kabale University, Kabale, Uganda. Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda. Department of Pediatrics, Kabale University School of Medicine, Kabale, Uganda. Department of Agriculture, Bishop Stuart University, Mbarara, Uganda. Department of Public Health Kabale University School of Medicine, Kabale, Uganda.

Abstract summary 

Evidence from high-income settings suggests that gardening is associated with reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress. The benefits of gardening are less well understood by mental health practitioners and researchers from low- and middle-income countries. Our study estimated the association between participation in gardening and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among caregivers of people living with dementia in rural, southwestern Uganda. In a cross-sectional study, we interviewed 242 family caregivers of people with dementia to elicit their gardening activities; symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales); and caregiving burden (Zarit Burden Interview). Linear multivariable regression models estimated the association between participation in gardening and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Out of 242 participants, 131 (54%) caregivers were involved in gardening. Severe to extremely severe symptoms of depression were less prevalent among those who were involved in gardening compared with those who were not (0 [0%] vs. 105 [95%], P < 0.001), as were severe to extremely severe symptoms of anxiety (36 [27%] vs. 110 [99%], P < 0.001) and stress (2 [2%] vs. 94 [85%], P < 0.001). In regression models adjusting for covariates,we found statistically significant associations between participation in gardening and symptoms of depression (b = -18.4; 95% CI, 20.5 to -16.3), anxiety (b = -16.6; 95% CI, -18.6 to -14.6), and stress (b = -18.6; 95% CI, -20.6 to -16.6). Caregivers of people with dementia who participate in gardening have lower symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Gardening interventions in this at-risk population may ameliorate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Authors & Co-authors:  Ainamani Herbert E HE Bamwerinde Wilson M WM Rukundo Godfrey Z GZ Tumwesigire Sam S Kalibwani Rebecca M RM Bikaitwaho Evard M EM Tsai Alexander C AC

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Ainamani H.E., Alele P.E., Rukundo G.Z., Maling S., Wakida E.K., Obua C., Tsai A.C. Caregiving burden and mental health problems among family caregivers of people with dementia in rural Uganda. Glob. Ment. Health. 2020;7:e13. doi: 10.1017/gmh.2020.7.
Authors :  7
Identifiers
Doi : 101412
SSN : 2211-3355
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
ADRD, Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias;BADLS, Bristol Activities of Daily Living Scale;LAMICs, Low- and middle-income countries;Uganda;ZBI, Zarit Burden Interview;anxiety;caregiving burden;dementia;depression;gardening;mental health;sub-Saharan Africa
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Uganda
Publication Country
United States