Impact of hydroponic-planting service program on green space participation, happiness and stress among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents

Abstract

Abundant literature showed that exposure to nature, or green space, can have beneficial effects on mental health. Studies of the impact of green space program in mental health among Chinese adolescents are very limited. This service project aims to study the impact of a pilot program on green exposure, green activity, green satisfaction, stress and happiness among adolescents in secondary schools. The quasi-experimental design with control group was adopted. The intervention program focused on the hydroponic planting; group practice in the hydroponic planting at school, green eating, green tasting and relaxation exercise. The control group consisted of the usual stress management program of learning stress coping, sharing leisure activities and relaxation exercise in classes. Three secondary schools were recruited. Each school involved two classes in grade 7 and 8. Females displayed significantly higher overall green exposure level than males. The green space program introduced impacts on the levels of exposure, activity, satisfaction, stress and happiness in green participation one month after the program. The long term effect of integrating the Hydroponic planting techniques in promoting green space and mental health among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents worth further investigation.