Plants at home positively influenced the emotional well-being of adults during the COVID-19 confinement period

Perez-Urrestarazu, L. ., Kaltsidi, M. P., Nektarios, P. A., Markakis, G. ., Loges, V. ., Perini, K. ., & Fernandez-Canero, R. . (2020). Particularities of having plants at home during the confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126919

Restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 deprived many people worldwide from using public green spaces for a prolonged period of time. This study investigated the impact of having plants at home during the pandemic confinement on people's emotional well-being. The study also investigated people's preferences for the quantity and different types of indoor vegetation.

Researchers collected data through an online survey distributed worldwide. Over 4000 people from 46 different countries responded to the survey. Most of the responses were from four countries: Brazil, Greece, Spain, and Italy. As the number of responses from those four countries was enough to be statistically significant, only data from those countries were analyzed for this study. The survey asked participants to respond to 38 questions -- some focusing on personal and demographic information, some on COVID-related concerns, and some assessing attitudes towards nature. Other survey questions addressed people's emotional state during the COVID-19 confinement period and its correlation with the presence of plants at homes and their maintenance of the plants.

Almost all of the respondents reported having plants in their homes. The majority (73.7%) -- with no gender differences -- “agreed that having vegetation at home positively contributed to their mood during the COVID-19 confinement period.” While respondents reported a clear preference for outdoor versus indoor vegetation, the data showed that having more plants outside did not seem to affect their emotional state. Respondents generally preferred a few plants strategically placed indoors and a higher number of plants combined with living walls outdoors. Women reported experiencing negative emotions (stress, sadness, fearfulness, depression) during the pandemic more than men. Negative emotions were also more frequent in people living in small houses with minimal natural light and deprived of plants. Older people generally felt negative emotions less frequently than younger people, yet they reported a higher positive influence of plants at home on their emotional well-being. During their confinement, people generally allocated more time for plant maintenance than they did before confinement. Living (plant-filled) walls were not a popular option, as they were being used by less than 4% of the respondents. While living walls may be advantageous for increasing indoor vegetation, respondents identified related technical and economical hurdles.

This research shows that plants at home positively influenced the emotional well-being of adults during the COVID-19 confinement period. More than half of the respondents indicated that they would have preferred to have more plants at home during the confinement.

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