School Gardening and Health and Well-Being of School-Aged Children: A Realist Synthesis
Timothy P. Holloway, Lisa Dalton, Roger Hughes, Sisitha Jayasinghe, Kira Patterson, Sandra Murray, Robert Soward, Nuala M. Byrne, Andrew P. Hills, Kdk Ahuja
Nutrients
Urban Farm DB summary
This systematic realist synthesis investigated how school gardens improve health and well-being outcomes for school-aged children, examining 24 school gardening interventions. Most interventions, primarily in primary schools with children in Grades 2-6, aimed to increase fruit and vegetable intake and prevent childhood obesity. Positive outcomes included increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, dietary fiber, and vitamins A and C, improved body mass index, and enhanced well-being, achieved through mechanisms like curriculum integration, experiential learning, and family engagement.