{
  "abstract": "Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is a common psychological complication that negatively affects rehabilitation and quality of life. This study explored the lived experiences of patients with PSD participating in horticultural therapy (HT). Methods: A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted among 15 individuals with mild-to-moderate PSD who completed a six-month HT program in Shanghai, China. Semi-structured interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method. Results: Five themes emerged: rebuilding self-efficacy, reconstructing hope, enhancing social connectedness and sense of value, facilitating physical and psychological rehabilitation, and challenges during horticultural activities. Participants described HT as a meaningful experience that fostered confidence, hope, social participation, and motivation for recovery. Plant growth was often interpreted by participants as a symbol of personal resilience and hope, while horticultural activities were described as meaningful experiences that fostered social interaction and a sense of purpose. Nevertheless, plant loss and physical limitations sometimes generated frustration and helplessness. Conclusions: Participants described HT as a meaningful experience associated with self-efficacy, hope, social connectedness, and engagement in rehabilitation. The findings highlight the potential value of individualized horticultural activities as a supportive component of care for individuals with PSD and may inform the development of person-centered rehabilitation programs.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Shanghai Jing'an District Shibei Hospital, Shanghai 200443, China.",
    "Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.",
    "Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200072, China."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yuehua Gong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Haijian Shen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Lingli Ren"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Xiaoping Zhu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c39ewh3t1he0m.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/healthcare14193229",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13664736",
  "id": "c39ewh3t1he0m",
  "issns": [
    "2227-9032"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42881667",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2742|Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7215066507",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13664736?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13664736",
  "pmid": "42881667",
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c39ewh3t1he0m.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:16Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42881667",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42881667"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2742|Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Reconstructing Hope Through Horticultural Therapy: A Phenomenological Study of Individuals with Post-Stroke Depression.",
  "title_text": "Reconstructing Hope Through Horticultural Therapy: A Phenomenological Study of Individuals with Post-Stroke Depression.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:16Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/c39ewh3t1he0m",
  "venue": "Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)",
  "versions": []
}