Planetary Health and Loneliness

NCT06004531 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: CUB_PHAL2023Lippke202308
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,684
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this online study is the evaluation of planetary health behaviors in relation to levels of eco-anxiety, general well-being, and levels of loneliness. As climate change progresses at a dangerous rate, it is important to establish and maintain lifestyles that are productive, fulfilling, environmentally conscious, and low in anxiety. Through a better understanding of the interconnected nature of planetary health behaviors with other aspects of healthy living and perception of social isolation, this study will add to current state of science to help inform the creation of interventions promoting sustainable, healthy, happy living among the general public and specific subgroups.

Conditions

Loneliness; Anxiety; Health-Related Behavior; Healthy Lifestyle; Healthy Nutrition; Healthy Diet; Health Behavior

Keywords

Planetary Health; Eco-Friendly Behavior; Eco-Anxiety; Covid-19

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Young Consumers' Sustainable Consumption Behaviors (YCSCB) validated scale

  The primary outcome measure will be the YCSCB validated scale questionnaire. This will be given to participants right after they have completed the intervention section of the survey. The answering options range from "Never" (0, minimum score) to "Sometimes" (1) and "Often" (2) up to "Always" (3, maximum score). The items are worded 1. I eat meat (steak, ham, etc.). 2. I eat dairy products (butter, cheese, yoghurt, etc.). 3. I keep a healthy diet. 4. There are times when I discard food products. 5. I buy locally grown food products. 6. I reuse my leftovers for the next meal. and items # 1, 2 and 4 need to be reversed, then all items can be used as single items or as aggregated scales, with higher scores indicating a better outcome in terms of planetary health.

  This scale will take approximately 2 minutes to fill out completely.

• Ethically Minded Consumer Behavior (EMCB) validated scale

  The second primary outcome measure will be the EMCB validated scale questionnaire. This will be given to participants right after they have completed the intervention section of the survey. The answering options range from "Never true" (0, minimum score) to "Rarely true" (1), "Sometimes true" (2), "Mostly true" (3) and "Always true" (4, maximum score). The items are worded (for instance) 1. When there is a choice, I always choose the product that contributes to the least amount of environmental damage. 2\. I have switched products for environmental reasons. 3. If I understand the potential damage to the environment that some products can cause, I do not purchase those products. ... 10. I have paid more for socially responsible products when there is a cheaper alternative. All items can be used as single items or as aggregated scales, with higher scores indicating a better outcome in terms of planetary health.

  This scale will take approximately 2 minutes to fill out completely.

• Loneliness item from the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression-(CES D)-Scale

  To study some of the research questions unrelated to the intervention, the perceived social isolation is measured with a standardized scale building on the item in the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression-(CES-D)-Scale. The item is worded "How often did you feel lonely?" with the answering options "Daily" (3), "Several times a week" (2), "Once a week" (1) and "Rarely/never" (0). The item can be used as single items, with higher scores indicating a worse outcome in terms of more loneliness.

  This item will take less than 1 minute to complete.

Study Arms (2)

Health Promoting

EXPERIMENTAL

The survey will be organized so health promoting behavioral scale questions will be asked first concerning personal wellbeing. This will be followed by eco-friendly behavior scale questions involving one's concern for the wellbeing of the planet. After this, there will be two surveys concerning loneliness and eco-anxiety before the intervention.

Behavioral: Prompting open-ended question promoting sustainability; Behavioral: Sustainability Passage

Eco-friendly behavior

EXPERIMENTAL

The survey will be organized so eco-friendly behavior scale questions involving one's concern for the wellbeing of the planet will be asked first. This will be followed by health promoting behavioral scale questions concerning personal wellbeing. After this, there will be two surveys concerning loneliness and eco-anxiety before the intervention.

Behavioral: Prompting open-ended question promoting sustainability; Behavioral: Sustainability Passage

Interventions

Prompting open-ended question promoting sustainability BEHAVIORAL

This intervention will include active persuasion through prompting participants to answer an open-ended question regarding how they will alter their behavior to become more sustainable and eco-friendly.

Eco-friendly behavior; Health Promoting

Sustainability Passage BEHAVIORAL

This intervention will include passive persuasion through presenting participants with a passage discussing the serious issue of climate change and the pressing need for systemic and individual change to adopt sustainable practices and lifestyles.

Eco-friendly behavior; Health Promoting

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Ability to participate in surveys (e.g., sufficient German or English language skills)

You may not qualify if:

• Not being of age
• Illiteracy
• Massively limited cognitive abilities (linguistic components of the digital offerings must be able to be used and questionnaires completed or interviews participated in)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jacobs University Bremen gGmbH: lead

Study Sites (1)

Germany

Bremen, 28759, Germany

Location

Related Publications (24)

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MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Health Behavior; COVID-19

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Behavior; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases

Study Officials

• Sonia Lippke, Dr.

  Constructor University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 16, 2023
• First Posted: August 22, 2023
• Study Start: December 28, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2024
• Study Completion: December 31, 2024
• Last Updated: February 20, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

DE (1)