Effects of Horticultural Therapy Based on Social Skill on the Improvement of Interpersonal Relationship and Sociality of Women with Mental Retardation

This study investigated the effect of the horticultural therapy program based upon social skills on the improvement of interpersonal relationships and socialization in adult mental retardation women. From January 23 through April 28, research was conducted on a treatment group and a control group that consisted of 12 mental retardation women each at the "S" Social Welfare Center. In the treatment group, horticultural therapy programs based on social skill were applied twice a week for 3 months. In order to verify the effect of the horticultural therapy, the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS-Teacher form Elementary Level), Interpersonal Negotiation strategies, and Self-Esteem Scale were given as an evaluation before, during, and after treatment and the horticultural activity performance assessment (HAPA) was used for individual assessment each time. When a comparison was made before, during, and after treatment between the control group and treatment group to determine the effect of horticultural therapy, the control group showed a significant difference in self-esteem, but not in social-skills and interpersonal relationships. On the contrary, treatment group showed a highly significant in social-skills, interpersonal relationships as well as self-esteem. In the post-treatment comparison, the treatment group showed a significantly higher rate of improvement than the control group in all three categories. In a pre and post-HAPA comparison of the treatment group, significant improvement was observed in social-skills and interpersonal relationships. In terms of psychological behavior, interest and attention were improved while behavioral problems, sensitivity, dependency, emotional disturbance, withdrawal, and frustration were significantly reduced. Although improvement has been observed in participation and self-confidence after treatment, there was no numerically significant difference detected. When the HAPA was checked every time, social-skills and interpersonal relationships displayed significant improvement in interaction between patients, therapist-patient, and intimacy while psychological behavior displayed significant improvement in interest and attention, participation, and self-confidence, and a significant decrease in behavioral problems, sensitivity, dependency, emotional disturbance, withdrawal, and frustration. It can be postulated that horticultural therapy based upon social skills can help mental retardation women to fit into society by improving their interpersonal relationships and socialization.