Harvard Research Team Reveals:
Living with Flowers Strengthens Feelings of Compassion,
Decreases Anxiety and Worry
Can the mere presence of flowers in the home change people’s moods or state of mind? Can the effects carry over into our daily lives? New research, a result of a collective effort and strategic alliance by SAF and the Flower Promotion Organization (FPO), says yes.
Powerful Partnership
Throughout 2006, the SAF/FPO Alliance partnered with Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, to explore the effects of flowers in the home environment on well-being. The four-month behavioral research study concluded that people feel more compassionate toward others, have less worry and anxiety, and feel less depressed when fresh cut flowers are present in the home.
Main Findings
Flowers feed compassion.
Study participants who lived with flowers for less than a week felt an increase in feelings of compassion for others.
Flowers chase away anxieties, worries and the blues at home.
Overall, people in the study simply felt less negative after being around flowers at home for just a few days. People can feel the power of flowers: Participants most frequently placed the flowers in their kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms, where they spend a lot of time at home. They reported wanting to see the blooms first thing in the morning.
Living with flowers can provide a boost of energy, happiness and enthusiasm at work.
Having flowers at home can have a positive carry-over impact on our mood at work, too. The study found that people are more likely to feel happier and have more enthusiasm and energy at work when flowers are in their home living environments.
To our neighbors. Trust your local Boston florist, Exotic Flowers to decrease worry.