TIME SPENT IN HOME-GARDENING IN RELATION TO THE

STRESS LEVELS OF SELECTED RESIDENTS

OF CELINE HOMES SUBDIVISION

A Research Paper
Presented to the Faculty
Of Liceo de La Salle
Senior High School
University of St. La Salle

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements
In Capstone Project

Submitted by:
Asoy, Karylle Rey G.
Gonzales, Mariella Noreen G.
Laporno, Mae Dominique Ysabelle H.
Lirazan, Trisha Yzabelle B.
Relos, Eurica Hope G.

April 20, 2022

 ii

APPROVAL SHEET

The research entitled “TIME SPENT IN HOME-GARDENING IN RELATION TO

THE STRESS LEVELS OF SELECTED RESIDENTS OF CELINE HOMES
SUBDIVISION” presented by KARYLLE REY G. ASOY, MARIELLA NOREEN G.
GONZALES, MAE DOMINIQUE YSABELLE H. LAPORNO, TRISHA
YZABELLE B. LIRAZAN, AND EURICA HOPE G. RELOS in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for Capstone Project of Liceo De la Salle- Senior High School of the
University of St. La Salle has been evaluated and approved by the panel of evaluators.

PANEL OF EVALUATORS

LYNRIE JEAN B. SAGAYNO, LPT CARREN MAY PAMA, LPT

Member Member

MARY JADE C. JAKOSALEM

Adviser
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE i
APPROVAL SHEET ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS iii
LIST OF TABLES v
LIST OF FIGURES vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT vii
ABSTRACT viii
INTRODUCTION 1
Background of the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 3
Hypothesis 4
Conceptual Framework 4
Scope and Limitations 5
Significance of the Study 8
Definition of Terms 9
Review of Related Literature 11
METHODS 22
Research Design 22
Respondents of the Study 23
Research Instrument 24
Data Gathering Procedure 27
Statistical Treatment 28
Ethical Considerations 30
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 32
CONCLUSION 37
RECOMMENDATIONS 38
REFERENCES 40
APPENDICES 46
Appendix A: The Research Instrument 46
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Appendix B: Original Questionnaire 48

Appendix C: Google Forms 49
Appendix D: Statistical Analysis Results 51
Appendix E: Raw Data 52
Appendix F: Validity Results 53
Appendix G: Reliability Analysis 57
Appendix H: Raw Data for Reliability Testing 58
Appendix I: The Researchers 59
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LIST OF TABLES

Page
Table 1 Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the survey questionnaire 26

Table 2 Table of Interpretation for Time Spent in Home-Gardening 28

Table 3 Table of Interpretation for Stress Levels 29

Table 4 Table of Interpretation for Correlation between Time Spent 30

in Home- Gardening and Stress Levels of Selected Residents

of Celine Homes Subdivision

Table 5 Time spent in home-gardening by the selected residents of 32

Celine Homes Subdivision

Table 6 The stress levels of the selected residents of Celine Homes 34

Subdivision

Table 7 Significant correlation between the time spent in home-gardening 35

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LIST OF FIGURES

Page
Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the conceptual framework 5

of the study
 vii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

It is the researchers’ pleasure to acknowledge and extend their gratitude to those

who made this research paper possible.

First and foremost, they genuinely express their gratitude to their research adviser,

Ms. Mary Jade C. Jakosalem, for guiding them throughout the research process. Her

supervision, words of inspiration, and confidence in the researchers’ capabilities have lifted

their spirits to reach their boundless limits and capabilities as researchers.

It is an honor for the researchers to express their heartfelt gratitude to Jigger P.

Leonor, Ph.D. for his generous support, teachings in statistical methods and research

writing techniques, as well as feedback and advice on their research papers. The group

gives their sincere appreciation to our three (3) validators: Ms. Melissa Juada, LPT; Ms.

Maria Angela Leonor, LPT; and Sir Kenneth Parra, LPT, RN.

The researchers would also like to thank STEM 12-P for helping them accomplish

the reliability testing for their study. They equally express their gratitude to the selected

respondents of Celine Homes Subdivision for their willingness and cooperation to

participate in their research. Without them, this research would not have been successful.

To all their parents and friends who gave constant encouragement, support, and

guidance to keep them motivated to successfully complete their project, thank you.

Above all, they would like to thank God for everything; He is the source of all their

knowledge and strength. Each one of them proudly says, "I can do all things through Christ

who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). To God be the glory.

-The Researchers
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ABSTRACT

As the COVID-19 pandemic causes stress within the community, people have found ways
to cope with its negative impacts, such as home-gardening which has become a trend in
order to appease people’s stress and anxiety and to pass the boredom. This study aims to
determine the relationship between the time spent in home-gardening and the stress levels
of selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision. The researchers utilized a quantitative
descriptive-correlational research design, and conducted a survey to 50 residents from
Celine Homes Subdivision who were selected through purposive sampling. A modified
questionnaire based on the Perceived Stress Scale adopted from Cohen (1983) was used to
gather data from the respondents. To assess the time spent in home-gardening, and the
stress levels of the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision, mean was computed
and interpreted using a Likert Scale. To evaluate the relationship between the two variables,
Spearman Rho was applied. The results of the research were recorded, tabulated and
analyzed using different statistical tools and came up with the conclusion that: the
respondents spend low time in home-gardening, specifically 31to 59 minutes per week,
and experience average stress levels. The time spent in home-gardening and the stress
levels of Celine Homes Subdivision are significantly correlated, with a negative correlation
coefficient. This implies that when one variable is higher, the other variable is deemed
lower. Intervention programs on inculcating and spending more time in home-gardening
to reduce stress levels, and a further in-depth study are highly recommended.
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INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted people’s lives (Haleem & Javaid,

2020). It has caused numerous deaths, struck people ill with the virus, compromised

livelihood and education, slowed down the global economy and caused unrest among the

community. Fear and anxiety with regards to a new disease and what could occur can be

overwhelming and can cause strong emotions in adults and children (National Center for

Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, 2020). As it causes stress among members of the

community, the people have found ways in order to cope with its negative impacts. One of

which is home-gardening which has become a trend in order to appease people’s stress,

anxiety, and to pass boredom. Walljasper and Polansek (2020) adds that people worldwide

are resorting to gardening as a soothing, family friendly hobby that also eases concerns

over food security and stress due to the pandemic. Every ‘plantita’ and/or ‘plantito’ spends

a certain amount of time in home-gardening which has a dynamic with the stress level, that

some home-gardeners opt to continue home-gardening as a way to deal with stress, not

only brought upon by COVID-19, but also by various stressors. In fact, according to Soga

(2017), there is increasing evidence that gardening provides substantial human health

benefits.

A related study by Soga et al. (2020) states that nature around the home may play

a key role in mitigating against adverse mental health outcomes due to the pandemic and

the measures taken to address it. Furthermore, the aforementioned study adds that the

frequency of greenspace use and the existence of green window views from within the

home was associated with increased levels of self‐esteem, life satisfaction, and subjective
 2

happiness and decreased levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Furthermore,

according to Schmutz et al. (2014), it is widely recognized that regular contact with plants,

animals and the natural environment can improve physical health and mental well-being.

The researchers believe that time spent in home-gardening provides a welcome antidote to

the stresses of modern life, and thus, deserves the attention of health professionals, spatial

planners and other policy makers. Meanwhile, a related study explored the potential

benefits of allotment gardening for healthy aging, focusing on the opportunities for outdoor

physical activity, social support, and contact with nature that allotment gardening provides

(Hawkins et al., 2011). Moreover, studies show that there is a growing evidence that

exposure to plants and green space, and particularly to gardening, is beneficial to mental

and physical health (Thompson, 2018).

While many studies have shown that home-gardening has positive effects towards

the mental health of a person, the relationship between the time spent in such endeavor and

the corresponding effect on the stress level calls for further examination. In a non-

experimental study, a predictor variable, also known as independent variables, explains

changes in the response (Frost, 2021). Meanwhile, a criterion variable, also known as the

dependent variable, is influenced by the predictor variable (Salkind, 2010). This study

considers the time spent in home-gardening on a weekly basis as a predictor variable, which

may influence the criterion variable, that is, stress levels of selected residents of Celine

Homes Subdivision. According to Sloan (2018), stress levels and time spent on an activity

go hand in hand as wise time management can make one feel calmer and less stressed. This

research observes the interaction between the said variables to arrive at a comprehensive

evaluation.
 3

National information on mental health services in the Philippines indicates that

there are substantial gaps and inconsistencies in the delivery of mental healthcare (Lally,

Tully & Samaniego, 2019). In the Philippines, one in five people suffer from a mental

health problem. In a country with a population of 100 million, there are presently only 700

psychiatrists and a thousand psychiatric nurses. It is alarming that a national mental health

law has yet to be enacted despite the urge of various advocates. However, the community

finds ways like home-gardening to cope with the depressing struggles of life, such as

COVID-19. While there are claims to the efficiency of home-gardening towards deterring

stress levels, no formal statistical assessment has been conducted to test this assertion

(Soga, Gaston & Yamaura, 2017). In light of this, it is the researchers’ fervent desire to

conduct a study addressing the concern. The group believes that deciphering the correlation

between the aforementioned variables will raise awareness and better the welfare of the

community’s mental he alth. Moreover, mental fitness helps to achieve and sustain a state

of good mental health (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2021). Therefore, the prime

purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the time spent in home-

gardening and the stress levels of selected residents in Celine Home Subdivision.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the time spent in home-

gardening measured in minutes per week, and the stress levels of selected residents of

Celine Homes Subdivision.

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Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the time spent in home-gardening by the selected residents of Celine Homes

Subdivision on a weekly basis?

2. What is the stress level of the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision?

3. Is there a significant relationship between the time spent in home-gardening on a weekly

basis and the stress levels of the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision?

Hypothesis

There is no significant relationship between the time spent in home-gardening

measured in minutes per week and the stress levels of the selected residents of Celine

Homes Subdivision.

Conceptual Framework

Croteau (2019) cites a study conducted by Gonzales et al. (2009) which finds that

a garden distracts people from worrying and prevents them from obsessing about problems.

This study assessed changes in depression severity and perceived attentional capacity of

clinically depressed adults during a 12-week therapeutic horticulture program. Participants

had observed developments in the severity of their depression promptly reported significant

progress, which perpetuated even up until after three months. Moreoever, Croteau finds a

study by Japanese researchers who determined that allotting 30 minutes in a greenspace

not only drop cortisol levels, but also boost positive changes in heart rates and blood

pressure. Likewise, a distinct study stated that after 30 minutes of gardening, subjects’

cortisol levels lowered, and their moods were improved by such endeavor. Therefore, the
 5

aforementioned related literature establishes the existence of the relationship between time

spent in home-gardening and stress levels of selected participants. Evidently in their

studies, participants’ stress levels lowered after spending 30 minutes in home-gardening.

This analogy serves as a foundation for the conceptual framework of this research.

Figure 1 below illustrates the conceptual framework of the research. The paradigm

presents the variables that are considered in the research.

Time Spent in Home –

Stress Levels of Selected
Gardening by the
Residents of Celine
Selected Residents of
Homes Subdivision
Celine Homes
Subdivision

Figure 1. Schematic Diagram of the Conceptual Framework of the Study.

The diagram above illustrates the direct relationship between time spent

in home–gardening and stress levels of selected residents of Celine Homes

Subdivision, as guided by the concepts found by related studies. In the research,

time spent in home-gardening was seen to have a potential relationship with the

selected Celine Homes Subdivision residents’ stress levels. The relationship

between the variables in the research was presented by the one-headed arrow.

Scope and Limitations

This research focused on the relationship between the time spent in home-gardening

which is measured in minutes to hours on a weekly basis, and the stress levels of selected

residents of Celine Homes Subdivision. The researchers chose this location for the study

as it is in close proximity to the researchers’ homes, making it easier and convenient to

 6

conduct the study. Moreover, the researchers chose Celine Homes Community as the

research locale and respondents since it is safer to facilitate especially in the middle of the

pandemic, and at the same time, there were a number of home-owners observed to be

practicing home-gardening in the community which is a vital component in deriving

conclusive results for the research, and a factor that prompted the researchers to conduct

this study. The group also adds that it is conducive to start investigations in one’s locality

before branching out into the bigger facet, as learning the inner workings of one’s home is

a stepping stone for widening the range of respondents of the study in future researches.

Furthermore, the researchers conducted a survey aimed to measure the time spent in home-

gardening of the selected residents through the use of a modified questionnaire with

inquiries based on a validated questionnaire to evaluate the selected residents’ stress levels.

In order to conduct the survey, the researchers were assisted by authorized community

point-persons, adults and guardians in gathering the list of respondents, disseminating

information and survey, and ensuring smooth flow of data collection. Such supervision was

necessary so as to minimize face-to-face interactions and to ensure safety due to the

COVID-19 pandemic. All COVID-19 health safety protocols were observed. In addition,

the gathered data on time spent in home-gardening and stress levels of the selected

residents was limited to a self-evaluated assessment with a certain amount of questions that

would lead to a conclusion. As for the respondents of the study, the participants were

limited to the selected residents of Upper Phase 3 of Celine Homes Subdivision,

specifically in Blocks 5, 6, and 7, of Celine Homes Subdivision, who are 18 years of age

or older. This was done so as to narrow down the population, and for efficiency of the

research. Furthermore, due to the nature of the study and the situation of being in the middle
 7

of a pandemic where it’s difficult to administer the study without risking physical exposure

to the virus, as well as the lack of a highly active authority to provide definite records, the

researchers deemed it best that respondents were selected through purposive sampling

technique, which is an intentional selection of respondents based on their ability to explain

a specific theme, concept, or phenomenon (Robinson, 2014). In this case, the criteria

requires the respondents to be 18 years of age or older, and to be a resident of Celine Homes

Subdivision. The use of such non-probability sampling technique might affect the veracity

of the data in the study as it's difficult to calculate margin of errors, confidence intervals,

and how well the population is being represented. On the other hand, given the

circumstance of being in the midst of a pandemic, this survey was conducted through online

platforms, ‘Google Forms’, to be specific. This study was executed in the second semester

of the academic year 2021-2022, from February 10, 2022 to February 25, 2022.

This study does not measure the distractions within the time spent in home-

gardening. It also does not cover other factors that may affect stress levels besides the time

spent in home-gardening. The research used the Perceived Stress Scale, designed by Cohen

(1983), to measure the stress levels of the selected respondents. The questionnaire was

modified to measure the time spent in home-gardening and to tailor the questions, making

them suitable to the topic of the study. This research set limit on the items in the

questionnaires to answer concerns asked and to the statistical tools used in processing the

data. The results of the survey are highly dependent on the honesty of the respondents. The

instruments are easily accessible online, hence, researchers and participants can interact

safely in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are inevitable disturbances such

as connectivity issues, power interruption, miscommunication, lack of cooperation or

 8

motivation of respondents in answering the survey, lack of resources, and difficulties in

obtaining certain materials. Such barriers might affect the outcome of the study. Other

factors not mentioned in this study that can affect stress levels of respondents or time spent

in home-gardening may cause inaccuracy of answers, yet are not covered within the

confines of this research.

Significance of the Study

This research study is relevant and beneficial to the following stakeholders:

Residents of Celine Homes Subdivision. This study would benefit first and

foremost, the residents of Upper Phase 3 Celine Homes Subdivisions in determining how

much time must be spent in home-gardening, or if to engage in the said activity at all, in

order to achieve a healthy state of mind with low stress levels. This study would help them

evaluate home-gardening in relation to stress levels, improve their mental health, and guide

them in how they cope with stress.

Celine Homes Community. The community may benefit from this study as this

could serve as their guide in dealing with stress and their mental health. This study may

help them discern whether they should engage in home-gardening, how much time they

should spend in it, or to not engage in the activity. This study may lead the community

towards better mental health status, and a healthy community promotes better performance

and camaraderie among community members, which may enhance progress in the

community.

Celine Homes Barangay Officials. This study also benefits the Barangay Officials

as this can be their guide in creating projects, programs, organizations, laws and services
 9

that will cater to the community’s mental health. They may be able to evaluate time spent

in home-gardening in relation to stress levels, and respond with appropriate action in the

best interest of the residents.

Mental Health Professionals. They can make use of this study as a guide in their

counselling approaches and therapy advices in addressing mentally disturbed patients that

seek their services. They may opt to recommend or discourage home-gardening in relation

to stress levels depending on the results of the study. This research could be a learning

paradigm for intervention program on encouraging people to have a healthy state of mind.

Future Researchers. To future researchers who may find significant details,

information and insights, the results of this study might be a learning paradigm with studies

similar or related to this. Likewise, this study would give concepts to future researchers, to

explore other aspects. This study can be a source of assistance and reference for future

studies of various fields of academics.

Definition of Terms

The following are the salient terms that were defined conceptually and

operationally:

Celine Homes Subdivision. Conceptually, Celine Homes Subdivision is a

neighborhood in Bacolod City, Philippines, located southeast of Mandalagan (Mapcarta,

2021).

Operationally, this is the community wherein the research was conducted, and

where the pool of respondents was selected.

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Google Forms. On the conceptual aspect, Google Forms is a web-based app used

to create forms for data collection purposes, make surveys, quizzes, or event registration

sheets, which can be shared with respondents by sending a link, emailing a message, or

embedding it into a web page or blog post (Love, 2021).

In this study, Google Forms is the online platform that the researchers utilized to

create surveys, and to collect data from respondents.

Home-gardener. Home-gardeners, in concept, are people who have knowledge

and skills in gardening and maintenance, nurtures plants, and consistently improves the

greenspace (Activif, 2021).

This study describes home-gardeners as the individuals who engage in the activity

of home-gardening, and are the selected respondents of the survey. In this study, slang

terms ‘plantito’ (for a male home-gardener) or ‘plantita’ (for a female home-gardener)

might also be used as another reference for a home-gardener.

Home-gardening. It is defined conceptually as the act of turning an outside space

into a productive and functional area for the family, serving as a home for plants and as

well as animals that may have lost their natural habitat due to urbanization (Activif, 2021).

In the operational sense, home-gardening is an activity that some people engage in

to cope with stress, and such a trend was known to arise in the middle of a pandemic.

Perceived Stress Scale. Conceptually, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is the most

widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress, measuring

the degree to which situations in one’s life are appraised as stressful.

Operationally, the PSS is a data gathering instrument that was modified to meet

the needs of the study, and was used as the survey questionnaire of the research.
 11

Residents. The term residents is defined as certain groups of people who live in a

certain place or community, and can be marginalized or excluded and not recognized as

citizens who can contribute to the community (Vista, 2021).

For this study, residents refer to the selected people who belong to the community

of Celine Homes Subdivision. These residents are the chosen respondents for this research.

Stress level. On the conceptual aspect, stress level is defined as the intensity of the

body’s reaction to pressure from a certain situation or event, may it be physical, mental, or

emotional (Bhargava, 2020).

Meanwhile, on the operational facet, stress level is the degree of stress the

respondents feel in relation to the time spent in home-gardening, which was measured

using a modified questionnaire. It is considered as the criterion variable in this study.

Time. It is the progression of events from the past to the present into the future, and

the fourth dimension of reality that is used to describe events in three-dimensional space

(Helmenstine, 2019).

As used in this study, time is a predictor variable that refers to the amount of time

spent in home-gardening by the selected respondents of Celine Homes Subdivision. Time

was quantified as the number of minutes or hours per week and was measured through a

modified survey questionnaire.

Review of Related Literature

Time Spent in Home-Gardening

In the last 20 years, findings have shown that nature plays a vital role in the recovery

of people from stress and fatigue, yet there has been a scarcity in the researches made to
 12

measure the time spent in home-gardening. A related study by Ottosson and Grahn (2007),

aimed to test if being in a recreational outdoor greenspace causes people to be more

focused, as opposed to staying indoors, and whether people experience stress reduction

when placed in a natural environment with many green elements. The study found an

increase in the concentration of very elderly people who have visited a garden outside the

geriatric home in which they live, compared to that after resting indoors in their favourite

room. Furthermore, as to the time spent in home-gardening, the study suggested that having

a one-hour rest outdoors in a garden setting plays a role in elderly people's powers of

concentration, and could thereby affect their performance of activities of daily living.

In another related study, it indicated that the time to deliver each session of

gardening skills was expanded from an hour and a half to two hours (White et al., 2018).

Moreover, time was a question when it came to having plants ready to be transplanted,

harvested, and how much time there would be between sessions. The study explained that

plants should be started six weeks ahead of time to be ready to transplant by the third

session. Ideally, sessions would be held a week apart from each other, but in actuality this

may not be possible.

Stress and Coping Styles

In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional factor

that causes bodily or mental tension (Shiel, 2016). In response to stress, coping occurs in

an effort to maintain mental health and emotional well-being. Coping styles are the

behaviors, thoughts, and emotions that one uses to adjust to the changes that occur in

his/her life (Semel & Semel, 2020). Furthermore, Telloian (2018) states that coping styles
 13

can be broadly categorized as active or avoidant. Active styles involve an awareness of the

stressor and conscious attempts to reduce stress. While, avoidant coping mechanisms are

characterized by ignoring or avoiding the problem. Among the more commonly used

adaptive coping styles are support, relaxation, problem-solving, humor, and physical

activity, while avoidant coping styles include escape, unhealthy self-soothing, numbing,

compulsions and risk-taking, and self-harm (Telloian, 2018).

Meanwhile, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disrupted almost every

aspect of daily life, engendering forced isolation and social distance, economic hardship,

fears of contracting a potentially lethal illness and feelings of helplessness and

hopelessness (Polizzzi, Lynn & Perry, 2020). In a study entitled Stress and Coping in the

Time of COVID-19: Pathways to Resilience and Recovery (2020), it states that even

isolated individuals, with limited social contacts, can engage in rewarding albeit mundane

tasks and self-care even when dire situation while focusing on living their best possible

life. For instance, they can carry on with various activities such as hobbies and mentally

challenging tasks like solving puzzles, reading, playing music, watching television, home-

gardening, playing Internet games, and preparing for how post-pandemic life will change

for the better. These types of coping activities, called behavioral activation, are diverting

and spark positive emotions that researchers found to be critical to resilient outcomes and

recovery after 9/11. They facilitate the ability to bounce back from negative experiences,

reduce the psychological burden imposed by prolonged distress, and free-up cognitive

resources to contend with everyday stressors and adjust to fluctuating situational demands

(Bonanno, Brewin, Kaniasty, & La Greca, 2010).

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On the other hand, one of the most dramatic of stress coping interventions studies

was conducted by Fawzy and his colleagues, who did specific coping skills interventions

with melanoma patients (Walinga, 2014). At a six-week structured program, participants

experienced multiple program components including health education, psychological

support, problem-solving, and stress management training. In the short term, the

experimental subjects were more likely to use active behavior coping than the controls, and

also had more positive affect. Differences in immune functioning were evident between

the two groups at the six-month assessment. While coping strategies were not directly

associated with immune cell changes, they were correlated with affect, which in turn was

associated with immune functioning. At a five-year follow-up, a third of the control group

had died, compared with less than 10% of the experimental group. Longer survival was

associated with more active coping at baseline.

Home-Gardening as a Coping Style Against Stress

In two recent population surveys in the UK conducted by Corley et al. (2021), it

has been found that having access to, and spending time in private gardens, is positively

associated with enhanced well-being. Furthermore, previous research suggests that

neighbourhood green space and contact with nature may ‘buffer’ the psychological and

physiological impact of stressful life events. Among the older generation who have been

subject to extended periods of home confinement, being able to use a garden could

potentially alleviate some of the mental and physical harms of the COVID-19 crisis.

In addition, a related qualitative study shows available evidence that the post-

traumatic stress disorder condition has big emotional and psychological consequences for
 15

the individual, his/her family and the society, thus, research has been done to investigate

nature-based therapy as a coping method for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder,

and a growing amount of evidence points towards positive results (Poulsen, Stigsdotter and

Djernis, 2016). Eight Danish veterans participated in a 10-week nature-based activities in

a forest therapy garden. Qualitative interviews were conducted and analyzed using the

interpretative phenomenological method. The results indicated that the veterans have

achieved tools to use in stressful situations and experienced an improvement in their post-

traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Moreover, according to Adevi and Mårtensson (2013), in a rehabilitation

programme for people with stress disorder, a garden room can be an important ingredient.

The study encompasses the therapeutic role of nature in the form of a garden, as participants

experienced it during the recovery process. The research subjects were on sick leave due

to stress related symptoms and took part in rehabilitation at the Alnarp Rehabilitation

Garden in southern Sweden. The article is based on interviews with five participants who

describe their experiences of garden therapy and what they perceive as essential for their

recovery. The garden was associated with many positive experiences of interacting with

people and greenery and perceived as a safe and useful arena in their recovery. The

participants described how nature affords positive sensory experiences, physical and

psychological well-being, but also how nature and the garden facilitate beneficial social

interactions with other participants and caregivers. Importance was also allocated to the

symbolism of nature as associated to one's own growth and the passing of time. They

conceptualized the recovery process as initiated by more traditional forms of therapies but

reinforced and consolidated by the access to nature and the garden rooms. In a dynamic
 16

psychological perspective on place, the study illustrates the potential role of using nature

as a venue to facilitate self-regulation of physiological, psychological and social needs.

Effects of Home-Gardening to Mental Health

Due to COVID 19, social distancing and self-isolation have had unintended

detrimental impacts on many aspects of people's lives including psychological and physical

well-being, and levels of physical activity (Cory et al., 2021). Domestic gardens have

arguably become more important than ever in providing contact with the natural

environment, as well as opportunities for physical exercise. Additionally, green space is

associated with a range of health benefits. Among the older generation who have been

subject to extended periods of home confinement, being able to use a garden could

potentially alleviate some of the mental and physical harms of the crisis. The findings have

the potential to inform public health strategies of protective behaviors for the prevention

of a new pandemic of psychiatric disorders (Vindegaard & Benros, 2020).

Furthermore, in a related study by Chalmin- Pui, Griffiths, Roe, Heaton, and

Cameron (2021), that explores attitudes to home-gardening and the extent to which

gardening is seen as a health intervention, studies using regression models imply that the

presence of domestic gardens decreases health deprivation. It also adds that domestic

gardens have been linked to reductions in social, emotional and behavioral difficulties in

children ages 4-6, better physical and mental well-being in mid-aged and older people, a

reduction in the incidence of depression in older people, the prevention of stress, and the

capacity to support stress regulation. Meanwhile, increasing the frequency of gardening

was not correlated with greater health benefits, however, increasing the vegetation
 17

component of front gardens has been linked with lower self-reported stress in residents,

data that coincides with improvements in physiological indicators of stress as captured by

diurnal cortisol profiles, indicating less chronic stress (Chalmin-Pui et al., 2021).

Moreover, according to Theodorou et al.(2021), gardening activities have been

identified as a plausible tool to buffer the mental health consequences of forced home

confinement at the time of COVID-19. The study also investigates the relation between

gardening and psycho-pathological distress during the lockdown of the first wave of

COVID-19 in Italy. It is hypothesized that engagement in gardening activities promotes

psychological health, through a reduction of COVID -related stress. An online survey was

administered through sharing using social media to N = 303 participants during the March-

May 2020 lockdown in Italy, measuring COVID-19 related distress, psychopathological

distress, engagement in gardening activities plus a series of socio-demographic and

residential covariates. As predicted, a mediation model tested using a bootstrapping

procedure showed that gardening is related to lower psycho-pathological distress through

decreased COVID-19 related distress.

Time Spent in Home-Gardening in Relation to Stress Levels

Several studies have shown increasing proof that home-gardening is helpful in

soothing stress (Soga, 2017). However, time spent in home-gardening is a factor that may

be considered in relevance to stress levels. According to Thompson (2018), exposure to

plants and green space, and particularly to gardening, is beneficial to mental and physical

health, and so could reduce the pressure on the National Health Service (NHS). A group of

holistic therapies that aim to treat the whole person and has been well researched through
 18

surveys and randomised trials is so-called green care, or therapy by exposure to plants and

gardening. Furthermore, several trials have revealed the beneficial effects on mood and

mental health of simply observing nature, or even images of natural scenes. The study adds

that a regular dose of home-gardening is beneficial to health as it combines physical

activity with social interaction and exposure to nature and sunlight.

In addition, Boyd (2019) states that home-gardening can reduce stress levels. In

fact, the National Health Service (NHS) recommends around 150 minutes of moderate

exercise per week alongside some high-intensity muscle work, and the time spent in the

garden can greatly contribute to the recommended time span. Moreover, gardening tends

to be a full body work-out that ensures every muscle is flexed, and such physical activity

reduces symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. To add, well-timed gardening soothes

stress as it allows for personal creativity, reduction of cortisol, exposure to vitamin D, and

mental focus and mindfulness. This research is backed with several studies from the NHS,

clinical trials, surveys and findings by medical experts.

On the other hand, a study by Gonzales et al. (2009), cited by Croteau (2019),

showed that engaging with a garden distracts people from worrying and prevents them

from obsessing about problems. This study assessed changes in depression severity and

perceived attentional capacity of clinically depressed adults during a 12-week therapeutic

horticulture program. Participants had observed developments in the severity of their

depression during and immediately reported significant improvements, which continued

even up until after three months. Furthermore, Croteau finds a study by Japanese

researchers who determined that spending 30 minutes in the woods could not only lower

cortisol levels, but could also improve heart rates and blood pressure. Similarly, another
 19

study showed that after 30 minutes of gardening, participants’ cortisol levels dropped and

their moods were boosted by the activity.

Synthesis

The study included related literature vital to support the research, including the

several variables linked to the research such as the time spent in home-gardening, stress

and coping styles, home- gardening as a coping style against stress, the effects of home-

gardening to mental health, and the time spent in home- gardening in relation to stress

levels. The related literature found were a mix between qualitative and quantitative studies.

Some studies utilized online platforms to practice safe ethics due to the pandemic, and

others adopted an existing reliable questionnaire. On the time spent in home- gardening, it

is found that the recommended time spent is one to two hours, however, findings vary and

are vague. Meanwhile stress was defined and was found to have been linked to or caused

by the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the response to stress is a coping style, which can

either be positive or negative. Furthermore, several related studies stated that home-

gardening is a healthy coping style observed in many therapies, and has a positive impact

on mental health. To add, several sources have found links between the time spent in home-

gardening and the stress levels of respondents. In fact, they recommend that 30 to 150

minutes of physical activity in home- gardening can help reduce stress levels and lead to a

healthier state of mind.

The aforementioned related literature were helpful to the researchers in acquiring

foundational and additional knowledge that may support the findings and the validity of

our study. The research methods indicated in the related studies serve as a guide the
 20

researchers can adopt to improve data results. In addition, this has also helped the

researchers identify the research gap and the areas the study should fill such as the data on

time spent in home-gardening as there has been scarcity in the availability of data on such

matter. Moreover, the results in the related studies provide a backbone for this research and

give the researchers an impression on the expected end of the study to be conducted. The

breakthroughs uncovered by the related literature serve as a learning paradigm in

conducting this study with ease and efficiency.

On another note, undeniably, there were still discoveries unearthed and gaps in

knowledge on certain facets. For one, there were limited studies on the average and

recommended time spent in home-gardening and there was no consistent or specific time,

frequency or boundaries mentioned for the said activity. However, despite inconsistent

recommendations for ideal time that must be spent in home- gardening, the data found from

various researches serve as a range or basis in measuring the time spent in general by the

chosen respondents of Celine Homes Subdivision, which was done through a modified

questionnaire measuring the time in minutes to hours per week. In the context of this study,

the recommendation for time spent depends on the findings and the identified correlation

towards stress level that gear towards a healthier state of mind. In addition, there were only

a few studies conducted in the Philippines, and the researchers hope to determine if data

found apply the same for the chosen respondents, so that awareness may be brought to light

and appropriate response action may be made by the corresponding concerned

stakeholders. Thus, to fill in the research gaps and discover new crucial data, the

researchers conducted this study which aims to determine the relationship between the time
 21

spent in home-gardening and the stress levels of selected residents in Celine Home

Subdivision, and bring improvements to the quality of life.

 22

METHODS

Research Design

The quantitative descriptive-correlational research design was used by the

researchers to evaluate the correlation between the time spent in home-gardening and the

stress levels of selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision.

This study aimed to assess the relationship between the time spent in home-

gardening and the stress levels of selected residents in Celine Home Subdivision using a

modified survey based on the Perceived Stress Scale designed by Cohen (1983). To

integrate the different components of the study in a coherent and logical way, thereby

ensuring to effectively address the research problem, a quantitative approach, specifically

descriptive correlational research design was utilized.

A quantitative research design collects and analyzes numerical data, which can be

used to find patterns and averages, make predictions, test causal relationships, and

generalize results to wider populations (Bhandari, 2021). A descriptive research design is

a type of quantitative research design that describes a population, situation, or phenomenon

that is being studied, focusing on answering the how, what, when, and where questions of

a research problem, rather than the why (Blog, 2020). Furthermore, according to Bhandari

(2021), a descriptive-correlational research design investigates relationships between

variables without the researcher controlling or manipulating any of them, thus providing

insights into complex real-world relationships, and helping researchers develop theories

and make predictions. Furthermore, Creswell (2012) as cited by Hayyi (2014) states that

the correlational research design is used by investigators to describe and measure the

degree of interconnection between two or more variables or sets of scores.

 23

A correlational research design was deemed most appropriate for this study as it

helps the researchers evaluate relationships between the time spent in home-gardening, and

stress levels of selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision. Since the correlational

research design investigates correlations, it is highly suitable to this study which also seeks

to examine relationships between the aforementioned variables. Through this research

design, the researchers were able to meet the main objective, thus this method is most

convenient for this study, and help yield accurate results.

Respondents of the Study

The respondents of the study were selected residents from Upper Phase 3,

specifically in Blocks 5, 6, and 7, of Celine Homes Subdivision, who are 18 years of age

or older. The researchers chose the residents of Celine Homes Subdivision as the

respondents as there are a number of gardeners within the selected area, based on

observations and estimations, which highlights the theme of this study. It was also safer

and more convenient, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the chosen

respondents are in close proximity to the researchers.

Due to the nature of the study, and the situation of COVID-19, the researchers opted

to employ purposive sampling, which is a non-probability sampling technique where

respondents are intentionally selected based on how they fit a concept, or a specific theme.

Hence, there is no total population, instead, as advised, the researchers carefully selected

50 respondents from Upper Phase 3 Celine Homes Subdivision who meet the criteria which

are as follows. First, the selected respondents must be a resident of Upper Phase 3, Blocks

5, 6, and 7, Celine Homes Subdivision; and the selected respondents must be 18 years of
 24

age and above. Residents from Blocks 5, 6, and 7 of Upper Phase 3 were chosen so as to

focus within a specific range of vicinity to cover so as to narrow down the amount of

respondents, and to aim for efficient research processes. As for the age criteria, according

to Chall’s (1983) model of reading development, cited by Arthur et al. (2017), children

progress through five stages as they begin to read: pre-reading (birth to approximately age

6); initial reading and decoding (approximately ages 6-7); confirmation and fluency

(approximately ages 7-8); reading for learning (approximately ages 9 through 14); multiple

viewpoints (approximately ages 14 through 18); and construction and reconstruction

(approximately age 18 and up). As posed by such paradigm, the age where reading

comprehension is at its peak development is at age 18 and above. Fluent readers have more

available resources to concentrate on understanding. Larger vocabularies enable better

comprehension and learning, and domain-specific knowledge affords readers even more

fluency and vocabulary which further facilitates comprehension (Hirsch 2003 cited by

Arthur et al, 2017). Such level of understanding and maturity is a vital criteria for choosing

respondents so they can provide the most valid and relevant answers, that lead to accurate

results. Moreover, the researchers find it more efficient to select residents of legal age so

as to avoid conflicts, and more rigorous processes to get consent from their respective

parents and guardians.

Research Instrument

The researchers utilized a modified questionnaire adapted from the Perceived Stress

Scale designed by Cohen (1983) in order to gather data from selected respondents. Some

questions were added to meet the study’s objectives. The questionnaire was composed of
 25

three parts. Data gathered determined the relationship between the time spent in home-

gardening and the stress levels of selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision.

The first part of the questionnaire contained the purpose of the research study, a

letter to the respondents indicating that answering the questionnaire was completely

voluntary, and that the respondents' personal information was disclosed only to the

researchers and was kept confidential; instructions for answering the questionnaire, and

demographic information of the respondents including their name (optional), age group,

and sex.

The second section of the questionnaire was in a survey form which measured the

predictor variable in the study. It contained one (1) question regarding the time spent in

home-gardening by the selected respondents, which was measured in minutes to hours on

a weekly basis using multiple choice. The options range from zero to thirty minutes, to

more than three hours, as recommended by the National Health Service (NHS), and as

supported by other related literature. The choices are as follows; 0 to 30 minutes, 31 to 59

minutes (approximately 1 hour), 60 minutes (1 hour) to 119 minutes (approximately 2

hours), 120 minutes (2 hours) to 180 minutes (3 hours), and more than 180 minutes (3

hours).

The last part of the questionnaire was also in survey form which evaluates the

criterion variable of this research. It contained ten (10) questions adapted from the

Perceived Stress Scale, which measured the stress levels of the selected residents from

Celine Homes Subdivision, through the aid of a Likert Scale. The choices range from Never

to Very Often. The levels of measurement in the questionnaire were characterized by

numbers, 1- Never, 2- Seldom, 3- Sometimes, 4- Fairly Often, and 5- Very Often.

 26

To test the validity of the instrument, a three (3) member panel who are teachers

at Liceo De La Salle served as validators. Validators utilized the Good and Scates criteria

as the validity tool for evaluating the research instrument. The group’s validity test

garnered an over-all mean of 4.85 which is interpreted as Very Good. This strengthened

the validity of the researchers’ instrument. Furthermore, to test the reliability of the

instrument, a reliability test was performed on thirty (30) Grade 12 STEM - P students of

Liceo de La Salle A.Y. 2021-2022, who were not included in the sampling frame. Internal

consistency was used as a measure of reliability, and it was determined using the

Cronbach’s alpha formula. Cronbach’s alpha was used to evaluate the test instrument’s

reliability. According to Glen (2021), Cronbach’s alpha, α (or coefficient alpha), which

was developed by Lee Cronbach in 1951, tests to see if multiple-question Likert scale

surveys are reliable by measuring how closely related a set of test items are as a group. The

data was provided using the IBM SPSS Statistics software and interpreted based on the

Rule of Thumb established by Tavakol and Dennick (2011). The defined guidelines of the

Rule of Thumb were as follows: 0.5 > α is interpreted as unacceptable; 0.59 > α ≥ 0.50 is

considered as poor; 0.70 > α ≥ 0.60 is deemed as acceptable; 0.90 > α ≥ 0.80 indicates

excellent; and A = 1.00 means perfect. The table below shows the results of the reliability

test analysis.

Table 1.
Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the survey questionnaire

Cronbach’s Alpha N of items

0.789 11

Reliability test results showed that the Cronbach’s alpha of the questionnaire is

0.789, which is interpreted as “Acceptable”. This goes to show that the responses of the
 27

respondents are consistent across the items, and the items in the questionnaire are strongly

correlated with each other. An acceptable reliability test result demonstrates that the

group’s survey questionnaire is replicable and would still produce undeviating answers.

Data Gathering Procedure

The following steps were taken to collect the data required for the study’s

successful completion:

With adult supervision, the researchers gathered and finalized a list of 50

respondents who meet the criteria, specifically Celine Homes Subdivision residents who

are 18 years of age and older, and belong to Blocks 5, 6 or 7. Guardians and authorized

point-persons in the community assisted the researchers in communicating and distributing

the survey links which contained an informed consent form to the respondents to request

permission to participate in this study, and the survey questionnaire which collected data

from the respondents, so as to be efficient, safe and time-saving. All COVID-19 safety

protocols were observed in the conduct of data-gathering procedure.

Google Forms was used as a survey platform. Detailed instructional survey

questionnaires were distributed to the designated respondents through messaging platforms,

and notices disseminated by authorised point-persons in the community. In the case of any

inquiries, the respondents were able to reach the researchers through various messaging

media indicated in the letter of consent distributed. The researchers tended to respondents’

queries as prompt and as accurate as possible. The respondents participated in the study

voluntarily and there was no coercion involved. The confidentiality of the answers given

was guaranteed by the researchers. All ethical considerations were properly observed.
 28

After the respondents successfully submit their responses, the researchers grouped

and tabulated the results using Google Sheets. The data was then thoroughly analyzed using

appropriate statistical methods and interpreted accordingly.

Statistical Treatment

In the analyses of the data gathered, the following statistical tools were utilized:

To answer problem statement 1 which seeks to determine the time spent in

home-gardening by the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision, mean was

computed. A mean is the simple mathematical average of a set of two or more numbers

(Hayes & Kindness, 2022). In order to answer problem 1, the average that appears in a set

of data, or the mean was solved.

To facilitate the interpretation of the mean, as guided by the Interpretation of Mean

Score of Motivational Levels by Kitjaroonchai (2012), the rating scale below was utilized:

Table 2.
Table of Interpretation for Time Spent in Home-Gardening

Mean Interpretation

4.50- 5.00 Very High Time Spent

3.50- 4.49 High Time Spent

2.50-3.49 Average Time Spent

1.50-2.49 Low Time Spent

1-1.49 Very Low Time Spent

 29

To answer problem statement 2 which seeks to measure the stress levels of the

selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision, mean was computed in order to interpret

the data. To assess the volatility of the results, standard deviation was used. In scoring the

stress levels of the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision, Likert Scale degree of

likelihood using the standard deviation result as range of scaling was used. According to

EduPristine (2018), standard deviation is a statistical term used to measure the amount of

variability or dispersion around an average. A low standard deviation means that most of

the numbers are close to the average. On the other hand, a Likert scale assumes that the

strength/intensity of an attitude is linear, i.e. on a continuum from strongly agree to strongly

disagree, and makes the assumption that attitudes can be measured (McLeod, 2019). The

range of interval used in the Likert scale was based on the result of the standard deviation

of variance. This statistical tool of interpretation is one of the most reliable ways to measure

opinion, perceptions and behaviors (Survey Monkey, 2019).

To facilitate the interpretation of the mean, as guided by the Interpretation of Mean

Score of Motivational Levels by Kitjaroonchai (2012), the rating scale below was utilized:

Table 3.
Table of Interpretation for Stress Levels

Mean Interpretation

4.50- 5.00 Very High Stress Levels

3.50- 4.49 High Stress Levels

2.50-3.49 Average Stress Levels

1.50-2.49 Low Stress Levels

1-1.49 Very Low Stress Levels

 30

To answer problem statement 3 which seeks to determine if there is a

significant relationship between the time spent in home-gardening and the stress levels of

the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision, Spearman Rho was applied. The

Spearman correlation coefficient is a nonparametric, correlation statistic that measures the

strength of association between two rank-ordered variables, that have either a small

number or a large number of levels and is often used with interval/ratio variables that do

not meet the normal distribution assumption of parametric statistics (Frey, 2018). Such

makes it a suitable statistical tool to problem statement 3.

To facilitate the interpretation of the mean, the rating scale guided by Hurley (20222)

below was utilized:

Table 4.
Table of Interpretation for Correlation between Time Spent in Home- Gardening and
Stress Levels of Selected Residents of Celine Homes Subdivision

p-value Interpretation

p ≤ .05 Significant Correlation

p > .05 No Significant Correlation

Ethical Considerations

The researchers uphold morals as a vital part of the work ethic of the group.

Anonymity and confidentiality were strictly observed and secured in this research study.

The researchers were held responsible to respect regulations and to address confidentiality,

which is the management of private information by the researcher in order to protect the

subject's identity. Informed consent was observed in the process wherein a respondent’s
 31

right to autonomy is protected as well as the due process of informing the respondents of

the nature of the study and stipulating that they can withdraw from the course of survey

and the researchers would fully respect their decision. There was no coercing nor obliging

of residents to answer the questionnaire in this study. In the case that a respondent was not

willing to be involved in the study, the researchers would have had to look for other

available residents.

All data gathered for this study are for research purposes only. Furthermore, any

personal or sensitive information gathered from the respondents were not publicized.
 32

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This section presents the salient findings based on the specific questions raised in

this study. Results are presented in the following tables and followed by a comprehensive

discussion.

On the time spent in home-gardening by the selected residents of Celine Homes

Subdivision

Table 5

Time spent in home-gardening by the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision

Variable Mean SD Interpretation

Time spent in 2.00 0.99 Low time spent

home-gardening

Table 5 above shows the time spent in home-gardening by the selected residents of

Celine Homes Subdivision. Results show that the time spent in gardening by the selected

residents of Celine Homes Subdivision is low (M = 2.00, SD = 0.99).

The findings imply that most of the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision

spend little time in home-gardening. On a weekly basis, the number of hours they spend in

home gardening is around 31 to 59 minutes.

This agrees with the findings of Blair et al. (2013), which is a study on evaluating

if a healthful diet and physical activity may reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve

health in their selected population by conducting a feasibility study to evaluate a vegetable

gardening intervention that paired 12 adult and child cancer survivors with Master

Gardeners to explore effects on fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, quality-of-life,
 33

and physical function. In the study, the time spent in physical activity such as home-

gardening was more than or equal to 30 minutes per week. Their results showed that forty

percent of survivors increased their fruit and vegetable intake by ≥ 1 serving(s)/day and

60% increased their physical activity by ≥ 30 minutes/week. Among the caregivers of the

child cancer survivors, an increase of ≥ 30 minutes/week of physical activity and an

improvement in three of four functional tests was observed in 75% and 100% of caregivers,

respectively. In the group’s study, the results suggested that the time spent by respondents

is low, specifically around 31 to 59 minutes, which coincides with the time allotted in the

related study which is more than or equal to 30 minutes. In addition, due to the fact that the

subject of this study is a new issue brought by the pandemic, there are a limited related

literature regarding the matter. There has so far been no related study that specified 31 to

59 minutes is the ideal time spent in home-gardening, however several studies cite time

spent ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Such studies are the following. A related study

by Ottosson and Grahn (2007) suggested having a one-hour rest outdoors in a garden

setting. Moreover, Croteau (2019) finds a study by Japanese researchers who determined

that spending 30 minutes in the woods could not only lower cortisol levels, but could also

improve heart rates and blood pressure. While the studies do not deliberately exact to the

31 to 59 minutes perse, it is approximately within the range and can support the findings

of this study.
 34

On the stress levels of the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision

Table 6

Stress levels of the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision

Variable Mean SD Interpretation

Stress levels 2.67 0.85 Average stress

levels

Table 6 shows the stress levels of the selected residents of Celine Homes

Subdivision. According to the results, the respondents experience average stress (M = 2.67,

SD = 0.85).

The findings indicate that majority of the residents of Celine Homes Subdivision

have average stress levels. This means that the intensity of stress is neither too high nor too

low, rather, the selected residents undergo a moderate level of stress.

This contradicts with the findings of the study of Chalmin-Pui et al. (2021) which

shows that home-gardening was associated with lower self-reported stress in residents, data

that coincides with improvements in physiological indicators of stress as captured by

diurnal cortisol profiles, indicating less chronic stress. The current findings of Koay and

Dillon (2020) also found that the levels of perceived stress tended to be lower for the

community gardening group as compared to the other two groups, which also contradicts

the results of this study that found average stress levels among practitioners of home-

gardening, given that they spend little time in the endeavor. On the other hand, a study by

Husky, Kovess-Masfety and Swendsen (2020) conducted an investigation regarding the

stress levels during Covid-19 confinement of French respondents and the sample

experienced increased anxiety as well as moderate to severe stress during confinement,

 35

which supports the findings of the study where the respondents experienced moderate or

average stress levels.

On the significant relationship between the time spent in home-gardening and the

stress levels of selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision

Table 7

Significant correlation between the time spent in home-gardening and the stress levels of
the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision

Variables Mean r p Interpretation

Time Spent 2.00 -5.14 0.000 Significant

Correlation

Stress Levels 2.67

Table 7 shows that the time spent in home-gardening and the stress levels of Celine

Homes Subdivision are significantly correlated, with a negative correlation coefficient,

r(52) = -5.14, p = 0.000.

This implies that there is a significant correlation between the time spent in home-

gardening and the stress levels of selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision. The

findings demonstrate that the time spent in home gardening has a connection or relation to

the stress levels of selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision. Hence, the null

hypothesis is rejected. Furthermore, a negative correlation coefficient, also known as

inverse correlation, describes the extent to which two variables move in opposite

directions, for instance, for two variables, X and Y, an increase in X is associated with a

decrease in Y (Drury and Jasperson, 2021). This means that while the time spent in home-
 36

gardening is increasing, the stress levels are decreasing, and when time spent in home-

gardening is low, the stress levels would tend to be high.

While there are claims to the efficiency of home-gardening towards deterring stress

levels, no formal statistical assessment has been conducted to test this assertion (Soga,

Gaston & Yamaura, 2017). In spite of the limited related studies, the researchers found the

following correspondence. According to Chalmin-Pui et al. (2021), an increased frequency

of gardening was correlated with health benefits, which supports the results of this study.

Furthermore, it also shows that there was a 4.2% decrease in relative stress levels from

those who gardened ‘daily’ compared to those who ‘never gardened’. The data showed that

more frequent gardening (i.e. 2–3 times per week) corresponded to reductions in perceived

stress, increased subjective well-being and increased self-reported physical activity levels.

The results are novel in that they observed a ‘dose’ effect with the perceived health benefits

increasing in line with frequency of gardening activities. This confirms the assessment

made by this research where there is a significant correlation between the variables, and a

negative correlation was observed, implying that the higher the frequency or the time spent

in home gardening, the lower the stress levels, and vice versa. In addition, the results also

coincide with a study by Soga (2017) which states that a regular dose of home-gardening

is beneficial to health as it combines physical activity with social interaction and exposure

to nature and sunlight. Moreover, Boyd (2019) states that well-timed gardening reduces

stress levels as it allows for personal creativity, reduction of cortisol, exposure to vitamin

D, and mental focus and mindfulness. This research is backed with several studies from

the National Health Service, clinical trials, surveys and findings by medical experts.
 37

CONCLUSION

This research study evaluated the relationship between the time spent in home-

gardening which was measured in minutes per week, and the stress levels of selected

residents of Celine Homes Subdivision. The results show that the time spent in home-

gardening by the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision is low, specifically

around 31 to 59 minutes (approximately one hour) on a weekly basis. Furthermore, the

study also found that the respondents had average stress levels. Moreover, the findings also

revealed that there is a significant relationship between the time spent in home-gardening

and the stress levels of the selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivisions. Thus, the null

hypothesis is rejected. This means that the amount of time one allots in practicing home-

gardening has a correlation with the stress levels of the selected respondents. The stress

levels of the residents of Celine Homes Subdivision may be affected by the factor that is

the time they spend in such activity. Additionally, it was also assessed that the two variables

had a negative correlation, which meant that while one variable increased, the other

decreased, and vice-versa, or simply, the time spent in home-gardening and the stress levels

of selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision has an inverse relationship. In this case,

the respondents spent little time in home-gardening, to which the stress levels were at

average, and not greatly reduced. Therefore, this establishes that the higher the time spent

in home-gardening, the lower the stress levels of the selected residents of Celine Homes

Subdivision, whereas the lower the time spent, the higher the stress levels.
 38

RECOMMENDATIONS

With the aforementioned studies presented, it is recommended that the matter of

evaluating the relationship between the time spent in home-gardening and the stress levels

of home-gardeners be inspected further. In light of the findings of the study, it is advised

that home-gardeners in the Celine Homes Subdivisions should continue engaging in such

activity, whereas the non-gardeners could try home-gardening. It has been shown that

currently, the selected residents spent little time in home-gardening, specifically 31 to 59

minutes (approximately 1 hour) per week, leading to average stress levels. Hence, it is

highly recommended to spend more time in home-gardening so as to lower stress levels.

The residents may engage in home-gardening for an hour or more, but not to the point of

over-exhaustion, instead must be done in moderation.

For the Celine Homes Community, the researchers recommend a deeper

investigation on the relationship of time spent in home-gardening and stress levels of the

community as a whole, or conduct an evaluation at the larger scale and assess what

solutions can be made. The study highly recommends spending average to high amount of

time in home-gardening for reduced stress levels. The more time spent in the said activity,

the better as it lowers stress levels, as long as the resident does not overwork themselves.

Furthermore, the Celine Homes Barangay Officials are greatly advised to utilize this study

as a gauge so as to formulate conducive projects, programs, laws and services that could

advocate home-gardening to reduce stress among the community members. For instance,

they can create an annual home-gardening day, build a gardening space where everyone

can engage in gardening activities, hold seminars to introduce home-gardening and its

benefits to the residents, conduct further studies to understand the psyche of the residents
 39

and how to cater to their needs better, and the like. In addition, the researchers suggest

that mental health professionals consider home-gardening as an approach towards

providing sound counselling to their clients and help gear them towards a better state of

mind. Moreover, future researchers who may find significant details, information and

insights, the results of this study might be a learning paradigm with studies similar or

related to this. Since there is a gap with the sufficiency of the studies that tackle on this

topic, the researchers recommend a further study on the relationship between time spent in

home-gardening and the stress levels of the chosen respondents. The future studies may

explore improvements such as conducting the survey on other respondents besides the

residents of Celine Homes Subdivision, choosing a different research locale, employing

probability sampling methods instead of purposive sampling method, trying a different

survey questionnaire, conducting the study face to face instead of virtually and operating

with complete necessary tools, looking into the several aspects of stress (mental, physical,

social, etc.) and how they correlate with time spent in home-gardening, asking respondents

if they are first time home-gardeners or have been home-gardening for a long time which

could affect stress levels, taking into consideration other factors that may affect time spent

in home-gardening and stress levels (like school, work) that may affect the variables and

the veracity of the study, and scrutinizing other details or variables that this research study

may have overlooked.

In all, the study recommends spending adequate or more time in home-gardening

to lower stress levels, using this study as a learning paradigm to create programs advocating

home-gardening to reduce stress, and to conduct more in-depth studies on the matter and

other unexplored facets in the future studies.

 40

REFERENCES

Activif. (2019, November 14). What Is Home (Backyard) Gardening? (Importance,

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 46

APPENDIX A
RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

TIME SPENT IN HOME-GARDENING IN RELATION TO THE

STRESS LEVELS OF SELECTED RESIDENTS OF
CELINE HOMES SUBDIVISION

Dear Respondents,

Greetings of light! We are students from STEM 12-P of Liceo de La Salle - Bacolod
and we are conducting a study entitled, “Time Spent in Home-Gardening in Relation to
the Stress Levels of Selected Residents of Celine Homes Subdivision” as part of our
requirements for the subject Inquiries, Investigation and Immersion. This study aims to
determine the relationship between the time spent in home-gardening and the stress levels
of selected residents of Celine Homes Subdivision.

With that, you are chosen by the proponents of this research as one of its
respondents through purposive sampling technique. In line with this, we are inviting you
to answer this short survey as honestly as you can. Participation in this survey is voluntary
and you may withdraw your participation any time. The future findings of this study will
greatly help in raising awareness and in evaluating a better course of action. Thus, the
researchers are asking for your time to answer the survey for the purpose of the greater
good. Rest assured that confidentiality and proper ethics will be observed.

You may contact the researchers using the following contact details if you
have any questions or concerns: Email Address: s1010095@usls.edu.ph; Contact No.:
09985599915.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
The Researchers

 I have read the foregoing information. I had the opportunity to ask questions about
it and any questions I have asked have been satisfactorily answered. I consent
voluntarily to participate in this survey.

 I choose NOT to participate in this survey.

 47

Name (optional) ________________________________ Block (Circle): 5 6 7

Contact Details: ________________________________________________________
Age: •18 - 24 y.o. •25 -34 y.o. •35 - 44 y.o.
•45 - 54 y.o. •55 - 64 y.o. •Above 64 y.o.

Part I: Time Spent in Home-gardening

INSTRUCTIONS: The question asks about the amount of time you spend in home-
gardening per week. Kindly check the box of your answer.
1. How much time do you spend on home-gardening on a weekly basis?
 0 to 30 minutes
 31 to 59 minutes (approximately 1 hour)
 60 minutes (1 hour) to 119 minutes (approximately 2 hours)
 120 minutes (2 hours) to 180 minutes (3 hours)
 more than 180 minutes (3 hours)

Part II: Stress Levels

INSTRUCTIONS: The questions in this scale ask you about your feelings and thoughts
IN THE LAST MONTH in relation to your home-gardening. Kindly rate how often you
felt or thought a certain way by checking the box under the respective scale.

1 = Never 2 = Seldom 3 = Sometimes 4 = Fairly Often 5 = Very Often

ITEMS 1 2 3 4 5
1. How often have you been upset because of something that
happened unexpectedly?
2. How often have you felt that you were unable to control the
important things in your life?
3. How often have you felt nervous and “stressed”?
4. How often have you felt confident about your ability to handle
your personal problems?
5. How often have you felt that things were going your way?

6. How often have you found that you could not cope with all the
things that you had to do?
7. How often have you been able to control irritations in your life?

8. How often have you felt that you were on top of things?
9. How often have you been angered because of things that were
outside of your control?
10. How often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that
you could not overcome them?
Reference
Mind Garden Inc. (2020). Perceived Stress Scale. Mind Garden.
https://www.mindgarden.com/documents/PerceivedStressScale.pdf
 48

APPENDIX B
ORIGINAL QUESTIONNAIRE

PERCEIVED STRESS SCALE

The questions in this scale ask you about your feelings and thoughts during the last month.
In each case, you will be asked to indicate by circling how often you felt or thought a
certain way.
Name__________________________________________________ Date ________________
Age ________ Gender (Circle): M F Other _____________________________________

0 = Never 1 = Almost Never 2 = Sometimes 3 = Fairly Often 4 = Very Often

ITEMS
1. In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something 0 1 2 3 4
that happened unexpectedly?
2. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to 0 1 2 3 4
control the important things in your life?
3. In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and “stressed”? 0 1 2 3 4
4. In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability 0 1 2 3 4
to handle your personal problems?
5. In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your 0 1 2 3 4
way?
6. In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope 0 1 2 3 4
with all the things that you had to do?
7. In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations 0 1 2 3 4
in your life?
8. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of 0 1 2 3 4
things?
9. In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things 0 1 2 3 4
that were outside of your control?
10. In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up 0 1 2 3 4
so high that you could not overcome them?
 49

APPENDIX C
GOOGLE FORMS

Google Form Survey Link: https://forms.gle/JdT5gnXAKomjPeFz8

50
 51

APPENDIX D
STATISTICAL ANALYSES RESULTS
 52

APPENDIX E
RAW DATA
 53

APPENDIX F
VALIDITY RESULTS

Criteria Juror 1 Juror 2 Juror 3 Mean Rating

of each criteria
1 5 5 5 5
2 5 5 5 5
3 5 5 4 4.67
4 5 5 5 5
5 5 5 5 5
6 5 3 5 4.33
7 5 5 5 5
8 5 4 5 4.67
9 5 5 5 5
10 5 5 4 4.67
11 5 5 5 5
12 5 5 4 4.67
13 5 5 5 5
Overall mean: 4.85
Interpretation: Very good
54
55
56
 57

APPENDIX G
RELIABILITY ANALYSIS
 58

APPENDIX H
RAW DATA OF RELIABILITY TESTING
 59

APPENDIX I
THE RESEARCHERS