SynthesisBMC public health2016
A systematic review of the health and well-being impacts of school gardening: synthesis of quantitative and qualitative evidence.
Synthesis in BMC public health, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 58 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
58 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Examining Psychosocial and Economic Barriers to Green Space Access for Racialised Individuals and Families: A Narrative Literature Review of the Evidence to Date.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Evaluating the impacts of school garden-based programmes on diet and nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and practices among the school children: a systematic review.BMC public health · 2022Pooled it
- Human responses to nature- and culture-based non-clinical interventions: a systematised review.Perspectives in public health · 2022Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Garden-based interventions and early childhood health: an umbrella review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2020Pooled it
- The Influence of Food Production Experience on Dietary Knowledge, Awareness, Behaviors, and Health among Japanese: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Pooled it
- Trial
- A haven of green space: learning from a pilot pre-post evaluation of a school-based social and therapeutic horticulture intervention with children.BMC public health · 2018Trial
- Cooking and Gardening Behaviors and Improvements in Dietary Intake in Hispanic/Latino Youth.Childhood obesity (Print)Trial
- Socio-Demographic and Anthropometric Findings of Women Caregivers in Qwa-Qwa, Free State Province, South Africa.Nutrients · 2026Article
- Examining the role of school food gardens, food waste systems and cooking facilities in experiential education: a cross-sectional survey of primary school teachers' practices.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025Article
- Strengthening equity in gardening initiatives for children and youth: a rapid review.BMC public health · 2025Review
- Article
- Community responses to corona virus disease (COVID-19) in Africa in the face of "Infodemic": A scoping review.Parasite epidemiology and control · 2024Article
- A community-based intervention study involving family gardens with aromatic herbs on changes in dietary and urinary sodium.BMC nutrition · 2024Article
- Process evaluation of the Yéego! Program to increase healthy eating and gardening among American Indian elementary school children.BMC public health · 2024Article
- The feasibility of combining greening schoolyards and nutrition education in primary schools: A qualitative study.PloS one · 2024Article
- Enhancing Food Literacy and Food Security through School Gardening in Rural and Regional Communities.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Students' consumption of high and low nutrition foods and reduced plate waste by schools' wellness-related policies and garden program participation.Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association · 2023Article
- Subjective well-being of Thai pre-teen children: Individual, family, and school determinants.Heliyon · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSchool gardening programmes are increasingly popular, with suggested benefits including healthier eating and increased physical activity. Our objectives were to understand the health and well-being impacts of school gardens and the factors that help or hinder their success.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence (PROSPERO CRD42014007181). We searched multiple databases and used a range of supplementary approaches. Studies about school gardens were included if they reported on physical or mental health or well-being. Quantitative studies had to include a comparison group. Studies were quality appraised using appropriate tools. Findings were narratively synthesised and the qualitative evidence used to produce a conceptual framework to illustrate how benefits might be accrued.
resultsEvidence from 40 articles (21 quantitative studies; 16 qualitative studies; 3 mixed methods studies) was included. Generally the quantitative research was poor. Evidence for changes in fruit and vegetable intake was limited and based on self-report. The qualitative research was better quality and ascribed a range of health and well-being impacts to school gardens, with some idealistic expectations for their impact in the long term. Groups of pupils who do not excel in classroom activities were thought to particularly benefit. Lack of funding and over reliance on volunteers were thought to threaten success, while involvement with local communities and integration of gardening activities into the school curriculum were thought to support success.
conclusionMore robust quantitative research is needed to convincingly support the qualitative evidence suggesting wide ranging benefits from school gardens.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.