The Emotional, Physical and Cognitive Benefits of Purposeful Green Space Activities on Seniors

NCT04913363 | Completed Results

• 2 other identifiers: HSR210100UL1TR003015
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 24
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This project explores if various nature based activities can lead to acute improvements in emotional, physical and cognitive health outcomes and encouraging senior center (JABA) service users to return to a safe environment. The activities the investigators will use include walking in nature, engaging in physical planting and cerebral, citizen science based activities.

Conditions

Loneliness; Social Isolation; Mood; Well Aging; Physical Activity; Mobility Limitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (13)

• Loneliness (Time 1)

  Loneliness was measured by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale, a 3-item scale that captures feelings of loneliness. Scores range from 3 to 9 with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived loneliness

  Pre activity

• Loneliness (Time 2)

  Loneliness was measured by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale, a 3-item scale that captures feelings of loneliness. Scores range from 3 to 9 with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived loneliness

  Post activity (20 minutes after pre-activity measure)

• Social Isolation (Time 1)

  Social Isolation was measured by the General Belonging Scale (GBS), a 12-item scale capturing social acceptance/inclusion and social rejection/exclusion. Scores will range from 12 to 84, with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived belonging.

  Pre activity

• Social Isolation (Time 2)

  Social Isolation was measured by the General Belonging Scale (GBS), a 12-item scale capturing social acceptance/inclusion and social rejection/exclusion. Scores will range from 12 to 84, with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived belonging.

  Post activity (20 minutes after pre-activity measure)

• Mood_hedonic Tone (Time 1)

  Pre measures of mood (hedonic tone) was taken using the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL), an average measure of hedonic tone. The subscale will range from 4 to 16, with higher scores indicating higher valence.

  Pre activity

• Mood_hedonic Tone (Time 2)

  Post measures of (hedonic tone) was taken using the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL), an average measure of hedonic tone. The subscale will range from 4 to 16, with higher scores indicating higher valence.

  Post activity (20 minutes after pre-activity measure)

• Well Aging_ Using Perceived Restorativeness Scale

  Psychological restorative qualities of the setting was measured by the Perceived Restorativeness Scale, a three point scale determining the restorative quality of activity spaces. Scores range from 4 to 28, with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived restoration.

  Post activity (20 minutes after pre-activity measure). This measure is a post-condition measure only that measures restoration as a result of the condition. This cannot be done before exposure to the condition.

• Physical Activity_OMNIT

  In addition to the arousal measure of the MACL, the investigators used the 11 point scale (from 0 to 10) of the OMNIT Perceived Exertion scale (tiredness), to understand how physically tired the activities made them. Lower scores indicate the tasks are easy; higher scores indicate the tasks are hard.

  Post activity (20 minutes after pre-activity measure). OMNIT is administered post-activity ONLY.

• Physical Activity_OMNIH

  In addition to the arousal measure of the MACL, the investigators used the 11 point scale (from 0 to 10) of the OMNIH Perceived Exertion scale (exertion), to understand how much perceived physical effort participants put in. Lower scores indicate the tasks are easy; higher scores indicate the tasks are hard.

  Post activity (20 minutes after pre-activity measure). OMNIH is administered post-activity ONLY.

• Mood_Stress (Time 1)

  Pre measures of mood (stress) was taken using the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL), an average measure of stress. The subscale will range from 4 to 16, with higher scores indicating higher stress.

  Pre activity

• Mood_Stress (Time 2)

  Post measures of mood (stress) was taken using the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL), an average measure of stress. The subscale will range from 4 to 16, with higher scores indicating higher stress.

  Post activity (20 minutes after pre-activity measure)

• Mood_arousal (Time 1)

  Pre measures of mood (arousal) was taken using the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL), an average measure of arousal. The subscale will range from 4 to 16, with higher scores indicating higher arousal.

  Pre activity

• Mood_arousal (Time 2)

  Post measures of mood (arousal) was taken using the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL), an average measure of arousal. The subscale will range from 4 to 16, with higher scores indicating higher arousal.

  Post activity (20 minutes after pre-activity measure)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Mobility Limitation

  Throughout activity (measure taken for 20 minutes)

Study Arms (3)

Walking

EXPERIMENTAL

This contemplative activity will see users taken to a local green space area near their center and encouraged to walk around the space. It is anticipated walks will last around 15-20 minutes.

Other: Green space

Citizen Science

EXPERIMENTAL

This cerebral activity sees users engage with local green spaces, under the instruction of a citizen scientist, to learn about the intricacies of the space. This may include lichen counts (or similar) where the main outcome is learning based.

Other: Green space

Planting

EXPERIMENTAL

This physical activity will see users, lead by a local Master Gardener, engage with planting vegetables/fruit in raised beds. Not only will this allow users a chance to engage physically with nature, but it is anticipated that the grown produce will be used for center users.

Other: Green space

Interventions

Green space OTHER

Green space in which activities take place

Citizen Science; Planting; Walking

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Over 65 years
• A JABA center user
• Can walk unassisted for 20 minutes
• Willing to comply with COVID-19 regulations

You may not qualify if:

• Under 65 years
• Never used a JABA center
• unable to walk unassisted for 20 minutes.
• Unwilling to comply with COVID-19 regulations

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Virginia: lead
• National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Social Isolation; Motor Activity; Mobility Limitation

Interventions

Parks, Recreational

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Social Behavior; Behavior; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sports and Recreational Facilities; Non-Medical Public and Private Facilities

Limitations and Caveats

Study was a pilot, using small samples without comparison groups (such as controls). In addition, the study was a one-off and was unable to explore longer-term studies exploring 'dose' of the activity e.g. longer duration of activity (min), frequency and seasonality effects. Data capture using objective measures (e.g. actual physical exertion rates using accelerometers/mobile health sensors) was unable to be carried out owing to Covid-19 restrictions on direct contact with participants.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Jennifer Roe
• Organization: University of Virginia

jjr4b@virginia.edu

434-982-4567

Study Officials

• Jenny Roe

  University of Virginia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: The study was designed in a single group, where participants will be complete the interventions (green space activities) in this order: Citizen Science, Walking, Planting. However, participants may or may not show up on the day of an activity. i.e. participants may skip one or more interventions, even though that was not the intent of the study design.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 10, 2021
• First Posted: June 4, 2021
• Study Start: June 17, 2021
• Primary Completion: November 17, 2022
• Study Completion: November 17, 2022
• Last Updated: October 10, 2024
• Results First Posted: October 10, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)