Therapeutic Rainforest Study in Generating Positive Energy Among Undergraduate Students

NCT04914572 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MindtheGap200
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 81
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study looked into how therapeutic forest walking will impact the well-being of undergraduate students at the National University of Singapore. A three-arm randomized control trial on 108 participants is being planned for this study. The primary aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and primary effect of the Therapeutic Rainforest Walking in generating positive energy among undergraduate students project in enhancing the quality of life, physical, mental, and psycho-social well-being among University students.

Conditions

Stress; Anxiety

Keywords

Mental health; well-being; stress;

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Perceived Stress Scale 4 (PSS-4)

  4 items, Likert scale (0-lowest, 4-highest) Scoring higher in the scale would translate to higher perceived stress.

  8 weeks

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)

  7 items, Likert scale (0-lowest, 3-highest) Scoring higher in the scale would translate to higher anxiety level.

  8 weeks

• English Brief Resilience Scale (BRS)

  6 items, Likert scale (1-lowest, 5-highest) Scoring higher in the scale would translate to higher resilience.

  8 weeks

• Saliva Cortisol

  Measured using Passive drool method

  8 weeks

Study Arms (3)

Therapeutic rainforest & MIndful walking

EXPERIMENTAL

The first arm uses mindful walking through a 2km forest trail in Singapore. All Interventional and Control arms will conduct their walk between 8 am to 11 am for five occasions weekly. At the T1, participants will attend a Zoom orientation session to familiarize themselves with the route. During this session, participants will need to answer the self-report questionnaire and provide the first saliva sample for the baseline measurement. In T2, a pre-intervention and post-intervention saliva sample will be taken before the walk. This will follow by T3 the following week. At T4, participants will attend a 60 mins reflection session and answer the self-report questionnaire. On T5 and T6, the participants will continue with the therapeutic rainforest mindfulness walk. On T7, a pre-intervention and post-intervention saliva sample will be taken. On T8, participants will attend a 60 mins reflection session and answer the self-report questionnaire.

Other: Therapeutic rainforest mindful walking

Therapeutic rainforest walk

EXPERIMENTAL

The second arm of the intervention includes walking through a guided forest trail suggested by NParks Board. The collection of samples and answering of the self-report questionnaire will follow the same sequence as the 1st arm of the 3-arm RCT.

Other: Therapeutic rainforest walk

Campus green walk

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The control for this study includes guided casual walking around the campus green trial conducted at the same intervals as per the interventions. The collection of samples and answering of the self-report questionnaire will also follow the same sequence as the 1 arm of the 3-arm RCT.

Other: Campus Green walk

Interventions

Therapeutic rainforest mindful walking OTHER

A two-kilometer trail curated by the National Parks Board, Singapore. The walk will be led by Mindfulness Practitioner who volunteered to be guides for this study.

Therapeutic rainforest & MIndful walking

Therapeutic rainforest walk OTHER

A two-kilometer trail curated by the National Parks Board, Singapore. The walk will be led by volunteer guides recruited by the research team.

Therapeutic rainforest walk

Campus Green walk OTHER

A two-kilometer trail curated by the Office of Facility Management, NUS. The walk will be led by volunteer guides recruited by the research team.

Campus green walk

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Current NUS undergraduate students
• No self-reported physical mobility issue
• No self-reported existing mental health conditions
• Enjoys nature

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National University of Singapore: lead

Study Sites (1)

Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies

Singapore, Singapore

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Officials

• Yong Shian Goh, PhD

  National University of Singapore

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: * The first arm of the study includes the use of mindful walking through the therapeutic rainforest trail from Kent Ridge Park to Hort Park and Hort Park back to Kent Ridge Park. * The second arm of the study includes a walk through the therapeutic rainforest trail from Kent Ridge Park to Hort Park and Hort Park back to Kent Ridge Park. * The third arm of the study includes a walk through the Kent Ridge Road Trail curated by the Office of Facility Management.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 1, 2021
• First Posted: June 4, 2021
• Study Start: August 31, 2021
• Primary Completion: March 31, 2023
• Study Completion: March 31, 2023
• Last Updated: August 1, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-07

Locations

SG (1)