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Community Garden Initiatives Addressing Health and Well-Being Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Infodemiology Aspects, Outcomes, and Target Populations

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Gregis

    (UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development and Territory Management, University of Turin, 10100 Turin, Italy
    These Authors equally participated to this study.)

  • Chiara Ghisalberti

    (UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development and Territory Management, University of Turin, 10100 Turin, Italy
    These Authors equally participated to this study.)

  • Savino Sciascia

    (UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development and Territory Management, University of Turin, 10100 Turin, Italy
    Center of Research of Immunopathology & Rare Diseases, Nephrology & Dialysis, S. Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10100 Turin, Italy)

  • Francesco Sottile

    (Department of Architecture (DARCH), University of Palermo, VialedelleScienze, Edificio 14, 90145 Palermo, Italy)

  • Cristiana Peano

    (UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development and Territory Management, University of Turin, 10100 Turin, Italy
    Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, Grugliasco, 10095 Torino, Italy)

Abstract

Previous research has suggested that activities such as community gardens could offer a wide range of health benefits. The aim of the article is to systematically review the available literature to analyse the magnitude of the phenomenon, the geographical distribution, and the main characteristics in terms of health outcomes and target populations. The search addresses the question whether the activity in community gardens improves health and well-being outcomes of individuals. From the total amount of 7226, 84 selected articles showed that:(1) up to 50% are published by U.S. universities or institutions; (2) up to 44% of the studies considered “community gardens” as the main activity of the research focus; (3) one-third of the studies included adults; (4) almost 25% of the studies used “general health” as the main outcome when investigating the benefits of community gardens; (5) the percentage of studies that achieved their outcomes was heterogeneous among the different health dimensions. In conclusion, while a certain degree of heterogeneity in the used definition and outcome still exist, community gardens may be a viable strategy for well-being promotion in terms of psychological, social, and physical health and may be considered as an innovative urban strategy to promote urban public health.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Gregis & Chiara Ghisalberti & Savino Sciascia & Francesco Sottile & Cristiana Peano, 2021. "Community Garden Initiatives Addressing Health and Well-Being Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Infodemiology Aspects, Outcomes, and Target Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1943-:d:500770
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Siyu Chen & Ying Chang & Jack S. Benton & Bing Chen & Hongchen Hu & Jing Lu, 2024. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health-Related Behaviours in Community Gardens in China: An Evaluation of a Natural Experiment," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Liling Huang, 2023. "Developing Place-Based Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Taipei City’s Jiuzhuang Community Garden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-20, August.
    3. Gripper, Ashley B. & Nethery, Rachel & Cowger, Tori L. & White, Monica & Kawachi, Ichiro & Adamkiewicz, Gary, 2022. "Community solutions to food apartheid: A spatial analysis of community food-growing spaces and neighborhood demographics in Philadelphia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    4. Hua Zheng & Min Guo & Qian Wang & Qinghai Zhang & Noriko Akita, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Current Knowledge Structure and Research Progress Related to Urban Community Garden Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-34, January.
    5. Sinan Kordon & Patrick A. Miller & Cermetrius L. Bohannon, 2022. "Attitudes and Perceptions of Community Gardens: Making a Place for Them in Our Neighborhoods," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-25, October.
    6. Juliette Colinas & Francesca Ugolini & Mohammad Reza Khalilnezhad, 2024. "Public Food Trees’ Usage and Perception, and Their Potential for Participatory Edible Cities: A Case Study in Birjand, Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-23, September.

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