Office stressbuster: potted plants reduce work related stress

The study, led by environmental psychology expert Dr. Tina Bringslimark and her team at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and Uppsala University, Sweden, found that keeping pot plants in office helps reduce stress, fatigue, dry throats, headaches, cough, and dry skin among workers.

Reason? Researchers believe that plants and microbes present in their soil are capable of removing volatile, organic compounds that can adversely affect health.

“There could also be a psychological explanation in that people believe plants are healthier and are likely to evaluate their own health more optimistically,” the Daily Mail quoted Bringslimark as saying.

According to a WHO report, harmful indoor pollutants represent a serious health problem that is responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths worldwide each year.

385 employees studied
In a second study, involving 385 office workers, the researchers looked at the sick leave rates and the number of plants visible to workers from their desk.

The participants were then compared on a simple task: completing timed computer tasks in rooms with and without plants.

Indoor plants relieve stress, improve productivity
Employees who gave the test in rooms having plants were more found to be productive, and reported 12 percent quicker reaction time as compared to others.

They were also found to be less stressed and had lower blood pressure.

Researchers aver that the more plants subjects could see, the less sick leaves they took. This implies that keeping potted plants in office has a positive effect on the mental and psychological well being of a individual, the researchers said.

“This study confirms that common house plants can contribute to lower stress levels,” said Dr Virginia Lohr, who led the research.

The study also proved that dust levels in the workplace can be reduced by up to 20 percent if foliage plants are introduced.

Bringslimark added that foliage plants may be better than flowering plants.

“Large foliage surfaces produce most oxygen and help decompose toxic substances in the air,” she said.

Previously in 2006, a study by University of Texas and Washington State University in the United States and Surrey University in England revealed that keeping potted plants throughout the office can both lower stress and enhance productivity.