Health Benefits of Indoor Plants in the Workplace

Study Overview

Japanese researchers conducted a study to investigate the impact of indoor plants on reducing stress levels among employees in a work environment. The focus was on the effects of simply observing a plant during short rest periods.

Research Methodology

The study involved sixty-three employees who were instructed to take three-minute breaks to relax whenever they felt fatigued. Two distinct periods were analyzed: a control period without plants and an intervention period where participants engaged with indoor plants. During the intervention, employees spent time staring at a plant and caring for it during their breaks.

Data Collection

The researchers collected data on both psychological and physiological stress levels of the participants. Psychological stress was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), while physiological stress was measured by monitoring the participants’ pulse rates.

Results and Findings

The findings of the study, published in the journal Hort Technology, revealed that participants experienced reduced STAI scores and pulse rates following the intervention period. These results indicate that incorporating indoor plants into the workplace may offer significant health benefits, particularly in terms of stress reduction and enhanced mental health.

Expert Insight

According to lead author Masahiro Toyoda, “At present, not so many people fully understand and utilize the benefit of stress recovery brought by plants in the workplace. To ameliorate such situations, we decided it essential to verify and provide scientific evidence for the stress restorative effect by nearby plants in a real office setting.”

References

Toyoda, M., Yokota, Y., Barnes, M. and Kaneko, M. (2019). Potential of a Small Indoor Plant on the Desk for Reducing Office Workers’ Stress. HortTechnology, pp.1-9.
EurekAlert!. (2020). Plants can improve your work life. [online] Available at: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/asfh-pci010220.php
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