Other Titles

The Influence of Health Garden Project Interventions on Psychiatric Consumer/Survivors' Food Insecurity Health: An Integrative Review [Poster Title]

Abstract

Background: Psychiatric consumer/survivors (PC/Ss) are at risk of not having access to enough food and food of sufficient quality due to being on low and fixed incomes (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2023). Adequate amounts of nutritious foods are necessary for health and well-being (Smith et al., 2023). Gardening may be used by PC/S organizations to improve access to and quality of food, health, and healing.

Purpose: To synthesize and evaluate primary empirical evidence related to PC/Ss experiences with garden interventions and how strategies influence health and well-being.

Research Design: An integrative review methodology (Whittemore & Knafl, 2005) will be used. Key search terms were used to search three databases (PsychInfo, Medline Ovid, and Web of Science).

Data Analysis: Covidence and inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to complete the full-text screening of literature. In Covidence, duplicates were removed (n=28) and article titles (n=861) were screened by three reviewers. Full text reviews were completed (n=43). Study characteristics that will be extracted and analyzed using a matrix include: date of publication, country where research occurred, study purpose, objectives, and research question, research design, sample, instruments or tools, analysis of data, limitations, and results. Content analysis will be used to analyze data (Elo & Kyngas, 2007; Granheim et al., 2017).

Findings: Garden or gardening interventions and projects represent an upstream approach to the social determinant of health of food insecurity, health and quality of life. These interventions appear to be holistic, developed by and from input psychiatric/consumer survivors, and tailored to individuals’ health needs (Forneili, 2022; Wand et al., 2021) to reduce the medicalization of social needs (Nowak & Mulligan, 2021). Findings from the integrative review will assist in expanding our current knowledge about PC/Ss and consumer/survivor organizations and the interventions they develop and implement to enhance their individual health care well-being. This review will enhance our current understandings of how different garden and gardening interventions influence food security, how PC/Ss optimize interventions to promote health and well-being, and the need for mental health nurses to understand and work with PC/Ss' health promotion strategies.

Notes

References:

Elo, S., & Kyngas, H. (2007). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(10), 107-115.

Forneili, K. S. (2022). Expanded conceptual framework for ethical action by nurses on the “further upstream and farther downstream” determinants of health equity. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 33(3), 203-214.

Granheim, U. H., Lindgren, B.-M., & Lundman, B. (2017). Methodological challenges in qualitative content analysis: A discussion. Nurse Education Today, 56, 29-34.

Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2023). Mental health and the high cost of living: Policy brief. Health Canada Nowak, D., & Mulligan, K. (2021). Social prescribing: A call to action. Canadian Family Physician, 67, 88-91.

Smith, J., Stevens, H., Lake, A. A., & Teasdale, S. (2023). Food insecurity in adults with severe mental illness: A systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 31(2), 133-151.

Wand, T., Glover, S., & Paul, D. (2021). What should be the future focus of mental health nursing? Exploring the perspectives of mental health nurses, consumers, and allied health staff. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 31, 179-188.

Whittemore, R., & Knafl., K. (2005). The integrative review: Updated methodology. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 52(5), 546-553. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621.x

Description

Food insecurity due to low income impacts psychiatric consumer/survivors’ health. Consumer survivors and community organizations may use gardens as strategies to improve food access, quality, and promote health and healing. Evidence on gardening and consumers’ health will be synthesized using an integrative review. Preliminary analysis reveals that gardening is a holistic, upstream approach that enhances social needs, quality of life, food security, and mental health nursing practice.

Author Details

R. Coatsworth-Puspoky, PhD, RN; E. Jensen, PhD, RN; B. Edwards, MA; M. Placido, RN; R.-L. Puspoky, B.A., BScN Student; R.-A.Puspoky, Geography and Environmental Management Student

Sigma Membership

Iota Omicron, Mu Sigma, Tau Upsilon

Type

Poster

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Integrative Review

Research Approach

Mixed/Multi Method Research

Keywords:

Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Public and Community Health, Garden Interventions, Sustainable Food Movement, Food Insecurity, Food Security, Well-Being

Conference Name

37th International Nursing Research Congress

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Conference Year

2026

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2026-08-29

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The Influence of Garden Interventions on Consumer Survivors' Food Security: An Integrative Review

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Background: Psychiatric consumer/survivors (PC/Ss) are at risk of not having access to enough food and food of sufficient quality due to being on low and fixed incomes (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2023). Adequate amounts of nutritious foods are necessary for health and well-being (Smith et al., 2023). Gardening may be used by PC/S organizations to improve access to and quality of food, health, and healing.

Purpose: To synthesize and evaluate primary empirical evidence related to PC/Ss experiences with garden interventions and how strategies influence health and well-being.

Research Design: An integrative review methodology (Whittemore & Knafl, 2005) will be used. Key search terms were used to search three databases (PsychInfo, Medline Ovid, and Web of Science).

Data Analysis: Covidence and inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to complete the full-text screening of literature. In Covidence, duplicates were removed (n=28) and article titles (n=861) were screened by three reviewers. Full text reviews were completed (n=43). Study characteristics that will be extracted and analyzed using a matrix include: date of publication, country where research occurred, study purpose, objectives, and research question, research design, sample, instruments or tools, analysis of data, limitations, and results. Content analysis will be used to analyze data (Elo & Kyngas, 2007; Granheim et al., 2017).

Findings: Garden or gardening interventions and projects represent an upstream approach to the social determinant of health of food insecurity, health and quality of life. These interventions appear to be holistic, developed by and from input psychiatric/consumer survivors, and tailored to individuals’ health needs (Forneili, 2022; Wand et al., 2021) to reduce the medicalization of social needs (Nowak & Mulligan, 2021). Findings from the integrative review will assist in expanding our current knowledge about PC/Ss and consumer/survivor organizations and the interventions they develop and implement to enhance their individual health care well-being. This review will enhance our current understandings of how different garden and gardening interventions influence food security, how PC/Ss optimize interventions to promote health and well-being, and the need for mental health nurses to understand and work with PC/Ss' health promotion strategies.