Practitioners’ experiences of the influence of bonsai art on health

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dc.contributor.authorEdwards, Stephen D.
dc.contributor.authorHermann, Caroll
dc.coverageBasel, Switzerland
dc.coverage.conferenceissn
dc.date.accessioned2026-03-10T13:38:29Z
dc.date.available2026-03-10T13:38:29Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.departmentNamePsychology
dc.description.abstractBonsai art refers to the cultivation of a miniature tree. This study was motivated by the hypothesis that bonsai art may also be an ecopsychological, therapeutic practice that can have meaningful healing qualities. An international online survey elicited the meaning of bonsai art for 255 skilled bonsai practitioners. Questionnaires and interviews were used to elicit the experiences of participants. The findings supported the hypothesis that, for skilled practitioners, bonsai art was associated with meaningful healing experiences. In particular, the evidence suggests that bonsai art facilitates improved ecological, spiritual, and emotional awareness, as well as various healing dimensions, including aesthetic creativity, resilience, adaptability, and social, physical, and personal health. It is viewed as an intervention technique that requires few resources, is easy to apply, and has a minimal impact on any environmental setting. The conclusions drawn point to the ethically sound health promotion value of bonsai art in various settings, such as psychiatric hospitals, retirement homes, rehabilitation centers, and prisons.
dc.facultyFaculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
dc.identifier.citationHermann, C. and Edwards, S.D. 2021. Practitioners’ experiences of the influence of bonsai art on health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), pp.1-13.
dc.identifier.issn1660-4601 (online)
dc.identifier.issn1661-7827 (print)
dc.identifier.otherhttps://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062894
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10530/58942
dc.inproceedingsissn
dc.issuenumber18 / 6
dc.keynoteissn
dc.language.isoen
dc.pages1 - 13
dc.peerreviewedYes
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.subjectIntervention
dc.subjectEcopsychology
dc.subjectArt therapy
dc.subjectMental health
dc.subjectHealth-seeking behaviour
dc.titlePractitioners’ experiences of the influence of bonsai art on health
dc.title.journalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
dc.typeJournal Article
dspace.entity.typePublication
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