Horticultural TherapyNCT06311825
The Effect of Horticultural Therapy on Loneliness and Life Satisfaction in Elderly Adults Living in Nursing Home
A study testing Horticultural Therapy in people with Horticultural Therapy and Loneliness, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Loneliness in elderly individuals increases with age and negatively affects individuals by decreasing life satisfaction. In recent years, horticultural therapy is a type of therapy that has developed and is added routine care of elderly individuals living in nursing homes. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 60 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Horticultural Therapy, Loneliness, Satisfaction, Personal
- What is being tested?
- Horticultural Therapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2024to 31 Oct 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 60 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Over 60 years old,
- Being literate,
- Living in nursing home for at least 3 months,
- Not diagnosed with dementia,
- Mini Mental Test Score>24
- No additional neurological disease,
Show all 12Show fewer
- No history of serious psychiatric illness,
- Not in the acute phase of a systemic disease,
- No vision or hearing loss that would hinder gardening activities,
- Does not have a physical disability that would hinder gardening activities,
- No history of falls,
- Not participating in different applications at the same time.
Who cannot join
- Does not meet the inclusion criteria,
- Persons with allergic reactions to soil and plants that may hinder with gardening activities.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa (IUC)
Istanbul, Şişli
About this study
Loneliness in elderly individuals increases with age and negatively affects individuals by decreasing life satisfaction. In recent years, horticultural therapy is a type of therapy that has developed and is added routine care of elderly individuals living in nursing homes. Social interaction, life satisfaction, feelings of success and responsibility and increase while loneliness and depression levels decrease through human-nature interaction in horticultural therapy.
In our country, no study has been found on the effects of horticultural therapy on physical or mental health in elderly individuals. This research will be conducted as a randomized control group study to examine the effects of horticultural therapy on loneliness and life satisfaction in elderly individuals living in nursing homes.
Read the detailed description
In recent years, the elderly population is increasing in Turkey and around the world. In our country from 2002 to 2022, the number of elderly people receiving care increased 2.8 times. Elderly individuals frequently complain about loneliness and think that they are abandoned. Loneliness is a multidimensional concept consisting of emotional loneliness and social loneliness, and reported that it reduces life satisfaction in elderly individuals.
There are many non pharmacological applications aimed at reducing loneliness and increasing life satisfaction however in recent years, the use of horticultural therapy in the world has attracted attention. In horticultural therapy interventions, gardening activities are carried out using indoor and outdoor plants. The plants which is medicinal and aromatic selected according to culture and cultivation. The plants contribute to the improvement of physical and mental health by stimulating 5 senses that visual, hearing, tasting, touching and smell.
Horticultural therapy is important in terms of providing social activity, reducing loneliness and increasing life satisfaction in elderly individuals using the healing power of nature.
Horticultural therapy is also used by nurses who are mental health professionals. In Turkey, there is no study to examine effects of horticultural therapy effects on mental health in elderly individuals. It is thought that with this study, it will be important to apply a new method in our country and contribute to nursing science in non-pharmacological applications.
- Conditions
- Horticultural Therapy, Loneliness, Satisfaction, Personal, Aging
- Being tested
- Horticultural Therapy
- Keywords
- Horticultural Therapy, Elderly, Loneliness, Life Satisfaction
- Medical subject headings
- Personal Satisfaction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Horticultural TherapyOther
One week before horticultural therapy (HT) interventions, face-to-face interviews will be held with the individuals in the experimental group and the forms will be filled in as a pretest.
HT will be applied to the experimental group. The application period was determined as a total of 6 weeks with 50-minute sessions twice a week.
Before starting the HT sessions, area preparations will be made and a safe therapeutic garden will be established.
Medicinal and aromatic plants will be selected that can grow in Turkey, are not harmful to human health, are fragrant and colorful in order to stimulate the senses, and according to air temperature and physical conditions.
HT sessions will consist of gardening activities (group meeting, introduction of plants and cultivation).
After HT interventions, the forms will be filled as a post test. The forms will be filled again 4 weeks after the end of the interventions for follow-up.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Horticultural Therapy Group (Experimental) | Experimental | Horticultural therapy will be applied to experimental group. Receives: Other: Horticultural Therapy |
| Controls (Control Group) | No intervention | No intervention will be applied to the control group. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Loneliness Scale for Elderly
The scale measures the loneliness levels of the elderly and consists of 11 items. The scale consists of two sub-dimensions: social loneliness and emotional loneliness. In the scale, 5 items are coded directly (1, 4, 7, 8, 11), and 6 items are reverse coded (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10). The degree to which the person experiences the situation contained in each statement in the scale is determined by a 3-point Likert type rating (0 = yes, 1 = possible, 2 = no). The lowest score to be obtained from the scale is 0 and the highest score is 22. Higher scale scores indicate increased loneliness levels. The internal consistency Cronbach's alpha coefficient is α=is .85.
Measured: 3 Month
Life Satisfaction Scale
The scale consists of 5 items and a single sub-dimension. The original scale is a seven-point Likert type, with answers ranging from 1-Strongly Agree to 7-Strongly Disagree. In the Turkish validity and reliability study conducted on adults, the seven-point Likert type was not found to be suitable for Turkish culture and the number of steps was reduced from seven to five. Scoring of the items in the scale; It was determined as "I totally disagree (1), I slightly agree (2), I moderately agree (3), I largely agree (4) and I totally agree (5)". The Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was reported as 0.88 and the test-retest reliability was reported as 0.97.
Measured: 3 Month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted15 Mar 2024
- Study start1 Apr 2024
- Primary completion31 Jul 2024
- Study completion31 Oct 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Horticultural TherapyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Istanbul University - CerrahpasaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Two parallel groups randomized control study
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Dilara Haktanır, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Investigators
- Hülya Bilgin, PhD, Study director, Istanbul University - CerrahpasaSima Pouya, PhD, Study director, Malatya Inonu University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06311825
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IstanbulUCDH
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 7 Mar 2024
- Last updated
- 18 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Horticultural Therapy on Loneliness and Life Satisfaction in Elderly Adults Living in Nursing Home
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06311825
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IstanbulUCDH
- Conditions
- Horticultural Therapy, Loneliness, Satisfaction, Personal, Aging
- Keywords
- Horticultural Therapy, Elderly, Loneliness, Life Satisfaction
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - CerrahpasaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 15 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Loneliness in elderly individuals increases with age and negatively affects individuals by decreasing life satisfaction. In recent years, horticultural therapy is a type of therapy that has developed and is added routine care of elderly individuals living in nursing homes. Social interaction, life satisfaction, feelings of success and responsibility and increase while loneliness and depression levels decrease through human-nature interaction in horticultural therapy.
In our country, no study has been found on the effects of horticultural therapy on physical or mental health in elderly individuals. This research will be conducted as a randomized control group study to examine the effects of horticultural therapy on loneliness and life satisfaction in elderly individuals living in nursing homes.
Detailed description
In recent years, the elderly population is increasing in Turkey and around the world. In our country from 2002 to 2022, the number of elderly people receiving care increased 2.8 times. Elderly individuals frequently complain about loneliness and think that they are abandoned. Loneliness is a multidimensional concept consisting of emotional loneliness and social loneliness, and reported that it reduces life satisfaction in elderly individuals.
There are many non pharmacological applications aimed at reducing loneliness and increasing life satisfaction however in recent years, the use of horticultural therapy in the world has attracted attention. In horticultural therapy interventions, gardening activities are carried out using indoor and outdoor plants. The plants which is medicinal and aromatic selected according to culture and cultivation. The plants contribute to the improvement of physical and mental health by stimulating 5 senses that visual, hearing, tasting, touching and smell.
Horticultural therapy is important in terms of providing social activity, reducing loneliness and increasing life satisfaction in elderly individuals using the healing power of nature.
Horticultural therapy is also used by nurses who are mental health professionals. In Turkey, there is no study to examine effects of horticultural therapy effects on mental health in elderly individuals. It is thought that with this study, it will be important to apply a new method in our country and contribute to nursing science in non-pharmacological applications.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Two parallel groups randomized control study
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Horticultural Therapy Group (Experimental) | Experimental | Other: Horticultural TherapyHorticultural therapy will be applied to experimental group. |
| Controls (Control Group) | No intervention | –No intervention will be applied to the control group. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 60 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Over 60 years old,
- Being literate,
- Living in nursing home for at least 3 months,
- Not diagnosed with dementia,
- Mini Mental Test Score>24
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Does not meet the inclusion criteria,
- Persons with allergic reactions to soil and plants that may hinder with gardening activities.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Horticultural TherapyOne week before horticultural therapy (HT) interventions, face-to-face interviews will be held with the individuals in the experimental group and the forms will be filled in as a pretest. HT will be applied to the experimental group. The application period was determined as a total of 6 weeks with 50-minute sessions twice a week. Before starting the HT sessions, area preparations will be made and a safe therapeutic garden will be established. Medicinal and aromatic plants will be selected that can grow in Turkey, are not harmful to human health, are fragrant and colorful in order to stimulate the senses, and according to air temperature and physical conditions. HT sessions will consist of gardening activities (group meeting, introduction of plants and cultivation). After HT interventions, the forms will be filled as a post test. The forms will be filled again 4 weeks after the end of the interventions for follow-up. | Other | Horticultural Therapy Group (Experimental) |
Primary outcome
Loneliness Scale for Elderly
Time frame: 3 Month
The scale measures the loneliness levels of the elderly and consists of 11 items. The scale consists of two sub-dimensions: social loneliness and emotional loneliness. In the scale, 5 items are coded directly (1, 4, 7, 8, 11), and 6 items are reverse coded (2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10). The degree to which the person experiences the situation contained in each statement in the scale is determined by a 3-point Likert type rating (0 = yes, 1 = possible, 2 = no). The lowest score to be obtained from the scale is 0 and the highest score is 22. Higher scale scores indicate increased loneliness levels. The internal consistency Cronbach's alpha coefficient is α=is .85.
Life Satisfaction Scale
Time frame: 3 Month
The scale consists of 5 items and a single sub-dimension. The original scale is a seven-point Likert type, with answers ranging from 1-Strongly Agree to 7-Strongly Disagree. In the Turkish validity and reliability study conducted on adults, the seven-point Likert type was not found to be suitable for Turkish culture and the number of steps was reduced from seven to five. Scoring of the items in the scale; It was determined as "I totally disagree (1), I slightly agree (2), I moderately agree (3), I largely agree (4) and I totally agree (5)". The Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient of the scale was reported as 0.88 and the test-retest reliability was reported as 0.97.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Horticultural Therapy
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Gardening Activities, Stress, and Social Interaction Among University Students
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Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Acute Stress and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Hemodialysis Patients
End-Stage Renal Disease, Renal Dialysis
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Gardening for Health for Cancer Survivors
Quality of Life, Lifestyle Intervention
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A Study on the Intervention Effect of Therapeutic Horticulture Based on the Healing System on Non-suicidal Self-injury in Adolescent Patients With Depression
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Comparing the Effects of Indoor vs. Outdoor Horticultural Therapy on College Students
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Hülya Bilgin, PhD study director
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
Sima Pouya, PhD study director
Malatya Inonu University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Horticultural Therapy in people with Horticultural Therapy and Loneliness, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 12 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Loneliness Scale for Elderly (time frame: 3 Month). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Feb 2026.