The Effects of a Horticultural Therapy Program Applying Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques on Emotional Changes in New Middle-Aged Women

Background and objective: This study was conducted to evaluate and enhance the effectiveness of horticultural therapy on the psychological challenges and well-being of new middle-aged women Specifically, it analyzed the effects of a horticultural therapy program on their depression, self-efficacy, and subjective well-beingMethods: The participants 18 new middle-aged women, who were assigned to either a control group (n = 8) or an experimental group (n = 10). The horticultural therapy program was conducted from July 15 to August 9, 2025, at the J Horticultural Psychology Coaching Center in Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. The program consisted of eight 60-minute sessions conducted twice a week. Results: A homogeneity test conducted prior to the intervention revealed no statistically significant differences between the control and experimental groups in depression, self-efficacy and subjective well-being, indicating that the two groups were comparable at baseline. The control group showed no significant differences in depression ( p = .609), self-efficacy ( p = .573), and subjective well-being ( p = .085). In contrast, the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in depression ( p = .005), self-efficacy ( p = .028) and subjective well-being ( p = .021). Conclusion: The findings confirmed that horticultural therapy significantly reduced depression and positively influenced self-efficacy and subjective well-being among new middle-aged women. These esults suggest that horticultural therapy can serve as effective intervention for overcoming psychological exhaustion and life stress and may contribute to the development of therapeutic programs for various populations in the future

Coaching · Cognitive behavioral therapy · Cognitive therapy · Psychological intervention · Psychological therapy · Treatment and control groups · Diverse Academia and Research Topics · Urban Agriculture and Sustainability · Urban Green Space and Health