Comparison of stress relieving effects of horticultural therapy programs between judging and perceiving personality types among female undergraduate students

Background and objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effects and preferences of horticultural therapy programs for stress relief according to MBTI personality types (Judging and Perceiving types) of female undergraduate students. Methods: The participants were divided into 15 Judging and 15 Perceiving types based on lifestyle preferences of the MBTI personality test, and a total of 30 participants participated in the horticultural therapy programs for 6 sessions. Results: Both Judging and Perceiving types showed a significant decrease in stress after participating in the horticultural therapy programs. Among the 8 life stress subfactors, Judging types showed significant stress relieving effects in 5 subfactors (relationship with the opposite sex, relationship with family, economic problems, future problems, value problems), while Perceiving types showed stress relieving effects in only 3 subfactors (relationship with family, economic problems, future problems). However, the changes in stress relief of 8 subfactors were not significantly different between the two personality types. The most preferred program for the Judging types was ‘Making a flower basket’, while the most preferred ones for the Perceiving types were ‘Planting monstera’, and ‘Making preserved lemons with marigold’, suggesting that the preferences varied depending on personality types. Conclusion: Therefore, it is necessary to develop suitable horticultural therapy programs for different subjects based on their personality types to enhance the effect of the programs on the subjects.