FLOWERS MAKE PEOPLE HAPPY
There are virtually unlimited palettes of colour and colour combinations in the kinds of cut flowers available in Canada. Bloom shapes and forms range from simple to complex, symmetrical to radial. An individual bloom viewed up close provides a pleasing visual experience whether it’s an element of a beautiful arrangement, or a part of a room’s décor. Fragrances flow from gentle scents to bold and evocative aromas.
The ways the eye and nose can be delighted with flowers are almost unlimited because they are based on our personal preferences. Flowers are naturally beautiful and, for most people, their presence improves the aesthetics and enjoyment of a space.
Behavioural researchers have explored the link between flowers and emotion and concluded that flowers are a natural and healthy moderator of moods, having an immediate impact on happiness.
Research findings at Rutgers University included the following:
1. Flowers have an immediate impact on happiness. All study participants expressed “true” or “excited” smiles upon receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. This reaction was universal, occurring in all age groups.
2. Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods. Specifically, study participants reported feeling less depressed, anxious, and agitated after receiving flowers, and demonstrated a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction.
3. Flowers make intimate connections. The presence of flowers led to increased contact with family and friends.
In another, earlier, study of 100 seniors at Rutgers University by Professor Jeannette Haviland-Jones, flowers also had the following impacts:
1. Flowers Decrease Depression. Study participants showed a significant increase in happiness and positive moods when flowers were present. 81% of seniors who
participated in the study reported a reduction in depression following the receipt of flowers.
2. Flowers Refresh Recent Memory. Seniors performed higher on everyday memory tasks and experienced enriched personal memories in the presence of flowers. 72 % of the seniors who received flowers scored very high on memory tests in comparison with seniors who did not receive flowers.
3. Flowers Encourage Companionship. Seniors who received flowers re-engaged with members of their communities and enlarged their social contacts to include more neighbours, religious support and even medical personnel. 40% of seniors reported broadening their social contacts beyond their normal social circle of family and close friends.
Flowers have a long-term positive effect on moods by lowering levels of stress and anxiety. People who kept flowers in their homes felt more relaxed, happier, and expressed more satisfaction with life.
A 2020 article in Vogue during the COVID-19 pandemic claimed that, people were drawn to flowers more than ever. Google searches for “flower delivery” doubled from March 2019 to March 2020, and Pinterest found searches for “flower boxes” were up 408% year over year. Flowers aren’t essential, but they’re emotional: as society capsizes around us, we search for even the smallest slivers of joys. Beautiful blooms – with their colour, smell, and symmetry – provide the brief solace we desperately seek.
The potential positive impact of flowers and gardening extends beyond private residences and also has very positive impacts in hospitals, hotels, respite homes, schools and even prisons!
The positive impacts are also borne out in science, as flowers trigger our happy brain chemicals: Dopamine, Oxytocin and Serotonin. Dopamine is triggered by the expectation of a reward, the blossoming of a flower triggers the sense that something special is coming. Oxytocin is often called the “bonding hormone: and creates feelings of social trust. Serotonin is released when a feeling of “social importance” is felt; many of our social rituals exist to satisfy this urge to relate in healthy ways by giving and receiving flowers.
Whose mood can you improve today?
Resources:
Breuning, L.G, 2017. 2017 Why Flowers Make Us Happy. Psychology Today
Baybutt M., Dooris M. and Farrier A. Growing health in UK prison settings. Health Promotion International, 2019;34:792-802
Collins, C.C. and A.M. O’Callaghan. 2008. The impact of horticultural responsibility on health indicators and quality of life in assisted living. HortTechnology 18:611-618.
Dunnett, N. and M. Qasim. 2000. Perceived benefits to human well-being of urban gardens. HortTechnology 10:40-45.
Charles R. Hall, Madeline W. Dickson. 2011. Economic, Environmental, and Health/Well-Being Benefits Associated with Green Industry Products and Services: A Review.
Haviland-Jones J. 2007 Rutgers Behavioral Study links flowers and life satisfaction
Haviland-Jones J. 2001 Rutgers Flowers & Seniors Study
Ohly et al. 2016. A systematic review of the health and well-being impacts of school gardening: syntheseis of quantitative and qualitative evidence. BMC Public Health 16:286
Taylor, A.F. and F.E. Kuo. 2009. Children with attention deficits concentrate better after walk in the park. J. Atten. Disord. 12:402-409.
Taylor, A.F., F.E. Kuo, and W.C. Sullivan. 2001. Coping with ADD – the surprising connection to green play settings. Environment and Behavior 33:54-77.
Taylor, A.F., F.E. Kuo, and W.C. Sullivan. 2002. Views of nature and self-discipline: Evidence from inner city children. J. Environ. Psychology 22:49-63.
Taylor, A.F., A. Wiley, F.E. Kuo, and W.C. Sullivan. 1998. Growing up in the inner city – green spaces as places to grow. Environment and Behavior 30:3-27.
Taylor, E. 2020 It’s Scientifically Proven that Flowers Make You Fell Better. Vogue Magazine
Charles R. Hall, Madeline W. Dickson. 2011. Economic, Environmental, and Health/Well-Being Benefits Associated with Green Industry Products and Services: A Review.
