We aimed to develop a horticultural therapy program to prepare adolescents at the Dae san juvenile detention center (D-JDC) for their return to society. The effects of the program on emotional stability and career exploration were investigated. Adolescents who wished to participate in the horticultural therapy program were recruited from the D-JDC. Data were collected using various questionnaires before and after the program was implemented. Thirty-five (mean age, 15.74 ± 1.65 years; 11 males, 24 females) students were enrolled. The program mainly consisted of plant cultivation activities, such as seeding, transplanting plants, cutting, harvesting, and post-harvest utilization. To evaluate emotional health, the ego-resiliency scale was used. To evaluate social behavior, the inventory of parent and peer attachment, peer attachment scale, and social skills scale were used. Career exploration was assessed using the career preparation behavior scale and the career decision-making self-efficacy-short form. Peer attachment, social skills, and career preparation behavior showed significant improvements after the program, with the students responding positively in the post-program surveys. Our horticultural therapy program helped improve the career exploration and social skills of D-JDC students and positively affected their emotional stability. Based on our findings, horticultural therapy can be used as a correctional program for adolescents in D-JDC to help them return to society.

The purpose of this study was to develop an agro-healing program using rural resources for stressed adults and to measure its effectiveness. A one-day agro-healing program was developed using the resources of a care farm located in Cheongju, South Korea. A total of 37 adults in their 20s to 50s who were experiencing mild or more severe stress participated in the agro-healing program. Analysis of stress-related psychological and emotional indicators of the agro-healing program revealed that post-treatment stress, anxiety, and depression indicators of the healing program significantly decreased (p< 0.05). Furthermore, mood state, vitality, and resilience indicators increased significantly, which demonstrated effectiveness in improving the mental health of participants with mental health issues. A Pearson correlation analysis between each psychological and emotional variable after the program found that stress had a significant correlation with all variables. Subjective vitality had a full mediating effect on the relationship between stress and resilience. Finally, the one-day agro-healing program was found to help relieve symptoms in adults with stress.