Community Gardening and Healthy Aging: An exploration of nutritional, health, social and sustainability impacts in the UK

Community gardens and allotments may have positive benefits that include nutritional, social and sustainability outcomes. In the UK, with increased longevity, there is a growing need for more targeted interventions to improve the health and mobility of adults. In the UK there is both a growing popularity of shared community gardens and continued popularity of food allotment gardens in adults and older adults, making the UK ideal to study if these may be of benefit in adults and older adults. Most community gardens research has been focused on schools, which will likely experience different impacts due to age and health differentials. There is little research in adults and these impacts are likely to be different due to, for instance, a higher risk of chronic disease development and social isolation. The current study will examine potential and actual impacts on health, nutrient consumption, social connectedness and sustainability practices in adults involved or becoming involved in allotment and community gardens in Yorkshire.

The project will be based at the University of Leeds, main campus in the School of Food Science in Nutrition, where there is a thriving research community and significant expertise in Public Health Nutrition. This project is a research training opportunity at the intersection of nutrition, public health, psychology and sustainability. The successful candidate will develop expertise in mixed methods research design, dietary analysis methods, and other subject specific research skills.

Research Methodology

The project is expected to involve some shorter studies with some of these methods e.g.

1. Mixed Methods Study: qualitative and quantative methods to capture participant data
2. Dietary Intake Data collection
3. A further study of your choice: some sort of related short intervention or cohort comparison study.

Expected Impact

This studies will make a relevant contribution to impact on evidence supporting healthy aging initiatives in the UK. It may also have findings of relevance to social prescribing and reablement agendas.

Candidate Profile and Research Environment

This project is a research training opportunity at the intersection of nutrition, public health, psychology and sustainability.The successful candidate will develop expertise in mixed methods research design, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, dietary analysis methods, and other research skills that will set them up for a research career in a growing field. The project would suit an individual with a strong interest in human nutrition, human behaviour and sustainability behaviour change.

For information on how to apply, please visit the institution website.