Hume C, Grieger JA, Kalamkarian A, D'Onise K, Smithers LG. Community gardens and their effects on diet, health, psychosocial and community outcomes: a systematic review.
BMC Public Health 2022;
22:1247. [PMID:
35739494 PMCID:
PMC9229094 DOI:
10.1186/s12889-022-13591-1]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
We systematically reviewed the effects of community gardens on physical and psychosocial health, health behaviors and community outcomes.
Methods
Quantitative studies that examined associations of health, psychosocial or community outcomes with community gardens were included in the review. Studies up to December 2020 were captured from searches of Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, EBSCOHost and CAB Abstracts. Data were extracted and study quality including risk of bias was examined.
Results
There were 53 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Studies examining associations between community gardens and nutrition or food security were most frequently reported (k = 23). Other factors examined for associations with community gardens were health (k = 16), psychosocial (k = 16) and community outcomes (k = 7). Effects appeared positive for fruit and vegetable intake, some psychosocial and community outcomes, but mixed for physical health outcomes. Evidence quality overall was low.
Conclusions
Community gardening was associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake, positive psychosocial and community outcomes, but poor evidence quality suggests the effects of community gardening may be overestimated.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13591-1.
Collapse