The Effects of Walking in Nature (vs. an Urban Setting) on the Wellbeing of Postsecondary Students.

NCT05889078 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: IUSMD-18-33 Phase 2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to examine the effects of a walking intervention (3 walks per week for a period of 4 weeks) in a nature vs. urban setting on the wellbeing of young adult postsecondary students. We will examine changes in positive and negative affect for participants assigned to the nature condition vs those assigned to the urban condition (primary outcome). We will also examine changes in reported depression and anxiety symptoms, perceived stress levels, sleep quality, mindfulness and wellbeing (secondary outcome).

Conditions

Affect; Wellness, Psychological; Depressive Symptoms; Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms; Stress; Sleep; Non-suicidal Self-injury

Keywords

Positive affect; Negative affect; Wellbeing; Walking intervention (nature vs urban); Postsecondary students; Young adults; Stress; Sleep quality; Non-suicidal self-injury; Mindfulness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in baseline positive affect at 4 weeks

  Measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Total scores range from 10-50 for positive affect, with higher scores indicating higher levels of positive affect (a better outcome).

  4 weeks (1x per week for 4 weeks)

• Change in baseline negative affect at 4 weeks

  Measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Total scores range from 10-50 for negative affect, with higher scores indicating higher levels of negative affect (a worse outcome).

  4 weeks (1x per week for 4 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Change in baseline depression symptoms at 5 weeks

  5 weeks (1 week following completion of study intervention)

• Change in baseline anxiety symptoms at 5 weeks

  5 weeks (1 week following completion of study intervention)

• Change in baseline perceived stress levels at 5 weeks

  5 weeks (1 week following completion of study intervention)

• Change in baseline sleep quality at 5 weeks

  5 weeks (1 week following completion of study intervention)

• Change in baseline mindfulness at 5 weeks

  5 weeks (1 week following completion of study intervention)

Study Arms (2)

Nature condition

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will walk in a nature setting 3x per week for a period of 4 weeks.

Behavioral: A 4-week walking intervention

Urban condition

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will walk in an urban setting 3x per week for a period of 4 weeks.

Behavioral: A 4-week walking intervention

Interventions

A 4-week walking intervention BEHAVIORAL

Participants will walk along a predetermined route 3 times per week for a period of 4 weeks, answering a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire as well as weekly questionnaires measuring their affect and other variables related to wellbeing. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions (nature vs urban setting), determining whether the predetermined route they will walk is in a nature or urban setting.

Nature condition; Urban condition

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• aged 18-25 years
• speaks English
• had working smartphone that can track walk routes using a smartphone application

You may not qualify if:

• inability to walk for 45 minutes due to serious medical reasons (eg surgery)
• heart condition

Sponsors & Collaborators

• McGill University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Montreal, Quebec, H4H 1R3, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being; Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Self-Injurious Behavior; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior; Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr Marie-Claude Geoffroy, assistant professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2023
• First Posted: June 5, 2023
• Study Start: November 9, 2022
• Primary Completion: May 30, 2023
• Study Completion: May 30, 2023
• Last Updated: June 5, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-05

Locations

CA (1)