NCT04139421

Brief Summary

This study will examine the effects of Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) as an intervention for enhancing psychological well-being in Chinese population. The main component of Shinrin-Yoku is the use of 5 senses in various activities, which typically includes forest walking, meditation, yoga etc. While Shinrin-Yoku has been widely recognized in Japan as a means of preventative health and stress management, it is still a new concept in some countries. In the existing literature, there is increasing evidence demonstrating the efficacy of Shinrin-Yoku for improving for health promotion. However, there is very limited research examining the effectiveness of Shinrin-Yoku in different types of natural environment and the sustainability of its effects.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
30

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2019

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 20, 2019

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 25, 2019

Completed
7 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 1, 2019

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 30, 2020

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 30, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

March 11, 2020

Status Verified

March 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

3 months

First QC Date

October 20, 2019

Last Update Submit

March 9, 2020

Conditions

Mental Health Wellness

Keywords

Shinrin-YokuForest BathingPsychological Well-beingNatural Environment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in the Profile of Mood States-Short Form

    The POMS-SF is a 30-item scale that measures six different dimensions of mood swings over a period of time. These include: Tension or Anxiety, Anger or Hostility, Vigor or Activity, Fatigue or Inertia, Depression or Dejection, Confusion or Bewilderment. A five-point scale ranging from "not at all" to "extremely" is administered by experimenters to patients to assess their mood states.

    Pre-, post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Change in Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21

    Up to 1 month after the intervention

  • Change in Nature-relatedness Scale-6

    Up to 1 month after the intervention

  • Change in Brief Resilience Scale

    Up to 1 month after the intervention

  • Change in Insomnia Severity Index

    Up to 1 month after the intervention

  • Change in Subjective Vitality Scales - State Version

    Up to 1 month after the intervention

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Urban Green Space group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This group of participants would experience a 3-hour Shinrin-Yoku session in urban green space.

Behavioral: Shinrin-Yoku

Rural Green Space group

EXPERIMENTAL

This group of participants would experience a 3-hour Shinrin-Yoku session in rural green space.

Behavioral: Shinrin-Yoku

Interventions

Shinrin-YokuBEHAVIORAL

Shinrin-Yoku is a traditional Japanese practice of getting in touch with nature through walking in the forest in a relaxed way using all five senses.

Also known as: Forest Bathing
Rural Green Space groupUrban Green Space group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Hong Kong residents
  • Aged from 18 to 65
  • Cantonese language fluency
  • a willingness to provide informed consent and comply with the trial protocol.

You may not qualify if:

  • Pregnant
  • Have suicidal ideation
  • Using medication or psychotherapy for depression
  • Experiencing Depression, Anxiety and Stress
  • Having unsafe conditions and are not recommended for physical activity by physicians
  • Have major psychiatric, medical or neurocognitive disorders that make participation infeasible based on the research team's judgment.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Shatin, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Interventions

Forest Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal SatisfactionBehavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Relaxation TherapyMind-Body TherapiesComplementary TherapiesTherapeutics

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Masking Details
Deception will be necessary prior to and during the study to achieve blinding of participants for the prevention of expectation bias.
Purpose
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: The randomization will be performed by an independent assessor using a computer-generated list of numbers. Participants in both groups will receive a 3-hour Shinrin-Yoku session in either natural forest or urban green area in Hong Kong.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 20, 2019

First Posted

October 25, 2019

Study Start

November 1, 2019

Primary Completion

January 30, 2020

Study Completion

March 30, 2020

Last Updated

March 11, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations

HK(2)