Research paper
Care-farming as a catalyst for healthy and sustainable lifestyle choices in those affected by traumatic grief

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2020.100339Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Care-farming resulted in positive lifestyle changes that lasted beyond the intervention period.

  • Participants noted significant pivots toward healthier eating, less wastefulness, and a propensity toward sustainable production practices.

  • The emotional expression fostered during the intervention improved sleep outcomes for many participants.

  • Care-farming expanded participants’ sense of safety, social connection, and enhanced awareness of others and of nature.

  • These improved connections fostered a giving and receiving of compassion and chances to re-narrate residual effects of trauma.

Abstract

Care-farms are increasingly utilized as a means of providing care, support, and therapy for a wide range of different populations, enabling people to cultivate social, physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This study explores the impacts of a care-farm intervention for traumatically bereaved individuals, a population at high-risk of poor physical and psychological outcomes. The study examines how a care-farming model can enable and encourage participants to cultivate healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Following their participation in a care-farming intervention, bereaved parents, siblings, and spouses described significant pivots toward healthier eating, improved sleep outcomes, and increased physical activity. Our results indicate that care-farming may have potential to influence positive changes to health and health behaviors that last beyond the intervention period.

Keywords

Care farming
Grief
Trauma
Health behaviors
Nature
Ecotherapy

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