Quality of experience during horticultural activities: an experience sampling pilot study among older adults living in a nursing home Marta Bassi a, *, Cecilia Rassiga b , Natalia Fumagalli c , Giulio Senes c a Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy b I Neurology Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo – San Paolo Hospital, via A. di Rudinì 8, 20142 Milano, Italy c Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences – Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy ARTICLE INFO Article history: Received 8 November 2017 Received in revised form 5 January 2018 Accepted 16 January 2018 Available online Keywords: Psychological well-being Horticulture Quality of experience Experience sampling method Older adults A B ST R AC T Horticulture was shown to represent a well-being source for older adults, encompassing the physical, mental and social domains. Aim of this pilot study was to contribute to extant literature through the investigation of the quality of experience associated with horticultural versus occupational activities. A group of 11 older residents of a nursing home were involved in a crossover study with a baseline measure. Participants attended weekly horticultural and occupational sessions for two six-week cycles. Experience Sampling Method was administered before the program and after each session, to assess participants’ levels of happiness, concentration, sociability, involvement, challenges and stakes, and self-satisfaction. Altogether, 332 self-report questionnaires were collected. Findings showed that participants’ levels of the cognitive and motivational variables increased during both activities, but horticulture was also perceived as providing higher challenges and stakes, and im- proving self-satisfaction. Results can have practical implications for well-being promotion among older adults through meaningful activity engagement. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Introduction Research on the fast-growing ageing phenomenon around the world has led to the reconceptualization of old age as a phase in life in which individuals can still play an active role in the com- munity and have a good quality of life, rather than a phase of inevitable decline in human capacity. 1 The World Health Organi- zation (WHO) proposes the concept of active ageing defined as “the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and se- curity in order to enhance quality of life as people age. It allows people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well- being throughout the life course and to participate in society according to their needs, desires and capacities, while providing them with adequate protection, security and care when they require as- sistance” (p. 11). 2 In the same vein, the positive psychology movement has called for the need to catalyze a change in focus on human functioning, from the sole preoccupation with repairing im- paired areas of functioning to also building and valorizing personal and social resources. 3 From this perspective, positive ageing entails the optimal interaction of physical conditions, relational re- sources, positive mental states, and activity engagement. 4 Both the WHO and positive psychology views on ageing stress the role of activity engagement as a meaningful opportunity for per- sonal skills investment and community participation, and as a contribution to mental and physical well-being. However, activity engagement may be difficult for older adults experiencing loss of autonomous functioning and consequent need for alternative forms of accommodation such as residential care facilities. Life in a nursing home entails changes in living environment and habitual lifestyle. 5 It can engender feelings of abandonment, loss, loneliness, and mean- inglessness which can greatly undermine residents’ well-being. 5–7 In line with the active and positive ageing views, activities ar- ranged by staff at nursing homes were shown to help preserve continuity with the past and society, to enhance satisfaction and to evoke a sense of homeliness. 5,8 These activities include group ex- ercise classes, cooking clubs, book discussion, arts and crafts workshops, 5 as well as activities related to the natural setting, such as horticulture. 9,10 From this perspective, the present pilot study aimed to contribute to the literature by investigating the quality of experience older adults living in a nursing home associated with a horticultural activity program. Conflict of interest: Marta Bassi and Cecilia Rassiga declare no conflict of interest. Natalia Fumagalli and Giulio Senes received financial support from RSA Saccardo to buy plants and materials for the horticultural activities. Funding: RSA Saccardo provided financial support to buy plants and materials for the horticultural activities. Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Ethical Committee at the Uni- versity of Milan – Protocol 27/16, 21 September 2016. * Corresponding author. Marta Bassi, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy. Tel.: +39 0250319709; Fax: +39 0250319705. E-mail address: marta.bassi@unimi.it. (M. Bassi). 0197-4572/$ — see front matter © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.01.002 Geriatric Nursing ■■ (2018) ■■–■■ ARTICLE IN PRESS Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Geriatric Nursing journal homepage: www.gnjournal.com