# The mediating role of activity attachment in the relationship between gardening frequency, leisure orientation, and mental wellbeing: evidence from resident gardeners with implications for future gardening tourism

## TL;DR

Gardening frequently and viewing it as a leisure activity improves mental wellbeing and reduces stress through a sense of attachment to the activity.

## Contribution

This study identifies activity attachment as a mediator linking gardening frequency, leisure orientation, and mental wellbeing.

## Key findings

- Frequent gardening and leisure orientation increase attachment to gardening.
- Gardening attachment is linked to higher mental wellbeing and lower stress.
- Regular gardeners report better mental health, especially those gardening twice a week.

## Abstract

As modern urbanization, digitalization, and technological progress increasingly separate people from their natural environment, engaging with nature to improve residents’ wellbeing is becoming an increasingly challenging task.

By applying the most accessible therapeutic effect of gardening, our study aims to explore how the frequency of gardening activities and leisure orientation contribute to attachment to the activity. In turn, attachment to an activity increases mental wellbeing and reduces stress levels. Our case study was conducted in the developing urban area of Shymkent in Kazakhstan.

Using snowball sampling, we surveyed 210 urban residents, of whom 135 were gardeners and 75 were non-gardeners. The survey measured gardening frequency, leisure orientation, activity attachment, mental wellbeing and perceived stress. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc tests.

The results show that Frequent gardening (β = 0.225, p = 0.004) and perceiving it as a leisure activity (β = 0.209, p = 0.009) were associated with stronger attachment to gardening, which was linked to higher reported mental wellbeing (β = 0.256, p < 0.001) and lower perceived stress (β = 0.241, p < 0.001). Attachment partially mediated the relationship between gardening engagement and mental health outcomes. ANOVA indicated that participants who gardened regularly reported higher mental wellbeing than those who did not, with the most notable associations observed among individuals who gardened at least twice a week.

Participants who garden report higher mental health and lower stress levels, especially when gardening frequently with leisure motivation and a sense of attachment. To create healthier cities, public health and urban planning initiatives should promote access to leisure gardening activities and develop future green gardening tourism initiatives.