With the object of examining the effects of horticultural therapy based on structural recall by developmental stage on cognitive, emotional, and hand functions of institutionalized elderly, this study executed a horticultural therapy program once a week and through a total of 14 sessions during the period from May 2 to December 5, 2013. The subjects of this study were 34 elders admitted to S Geriatric hospital for geriatric diseases, and they were divided into a control group and an experimental group. Because the program was designed for institutionalized elders who were able to do only indoor activities, it provided various seasonal horticultural activities that could be done even in a limited space by giving materials and subjects that could be recalled by developmental stage. The results of this study are as follows. As to changes in cognitive functions (MSQ) after the horticultural therapy program, the control group showed a decrease as having more negative ranks, and the experimental group showed an increase as having more positive ranks, but such changes in the control and experimental groups were not significant. As to changes in emotional functions after the horticultural therapy program, the control group showed a decrease but without significance in ego integrity as having more negative ranks, and the experimental group showed an increase with significance as having more positive ranks (P=0.020). As to the experimental group’s changes in the sub factors of ego integrity, positive ranks increased in all the sub-factors and the increase was particularly significant in satisfaction with present life (P=0.038). As to changes in life satisfaction, the control group showed increased positive ranks but without significance, and the experimental group showed significantly increased positive ranks (P=0.022). As to the experimental group’s changes in the sub-factors of life satisfaction, changes in denial of the past (P=0.029) and denial of the future (P=0.016) were particularly significant. As to changes in hand functions, both the control and experimental groups showed some improvement in pinch after the horticultural therapy program but the changes were not significant. Grip strength did not change in the control group, and in the experimental group right-hand grip strength was improved slightly more than left-hand one, the difference was not significant. The results of this study suggest that horticultural therapy based on structural recall by developmental stage is effective in improving institutionalized elders’ emotional functions and, consequently, can contribute to higher quality of life, which is the ultimate goal of elders.

본 연구는 장애전담 어린이집에 재원 중인 발달지체유아를 대상으로 요일별 신체리듬을 고려한 원예활동 프로그램이 유아의 적응행동에 미치는 영향에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 원예활동 대상자는 S장애전담 어린이집에서 4세~6세 발달지체유아 대조군 8명, 실험군 8명이었다. 원예활동 프로그램은 2012년 10월 15일부터 2012년 11월 22일까지 주 3회 30분씩 총 18회 실시하였다. 전체 적응행동 평가 결과 대조군의 경우 실험 전 65.00점에서 실험 후 66.00점으로 1.00점이 향상되었고 실험군은 전체 적응행동 평가 결과 실험 전 66.00점에서 실험 후 85.50점으로 19.50점이 향상되었다. 실험군의 하위항목별 변화를 살펴보면 개념적 적응행동은 원예활동 실시 전 64.00점에서 실시 후 80.75점으로, 사회적 적응행동은 65.50점에서 80.63점으로, 실제적 적응행동은 74.38점에서 95.38점으로 모든 항목이 원예활동 실시 후 유의하게 향상되는 것을 볼 수 있었다. 이상의 연구결과로부터 요일별 신체리듬의 변화와 유아의 흥미와 참여도를 고려하여 설계한 원예활동프로그램이 장애전담 어린이집 내에 재원하고 있는 발달지체유아들의 적응행동 향상에 효과적인 것으로 나타났다.