The Effect of a Nature-based, Self-help Intervention on Mental Wellbeing

NCT06513793 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 5412277
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 47
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this pilot randomised controlled trial is to test the feasibility of a brief nature-based self-help psychological intervention for low mental wellbeing. The investigators want to learn whether the intervention is likely to help improve mental wellbeing and whether it is acceptable to participants. Participants will be members of the public in the United Kingdom (UK) with low mental wellbeing and the intervention lasts for four weeks. The main questions it aims to answer are: Will participants' mental wellbeing improve after the intervention, relative to participants in a waiting list arm. Will participants find the intervention useful and acceptable to do? Participants will: Complete baseline questionnaires on demographic information and on several areas linked to wellbeing. Complete further questionnaires on wellbeing after 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Complete a questionnaire on their experience of the intervention at 4 weeks. Receive and complete a self-guided booklet and link to a webspace to complete activities that are informed by psychological principles. Receive the intervention after four weeks if they were allocated to the waiting list arm first.

Conditions

Low Mental Wellbeing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS).

  The Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) is a 7-item unidimensional self-report measure that captures social, eudaimonic and hedonic dimensions of mental wellbeing. Scores range from 7 to 35 and higher scores indicate higher positive mental wellbeing.

  T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8).

  T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7).

  T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).

• Perceived Stress Scale (PSS4).

  T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).

• Ruminative Response Styles (RRS).

  T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).

• Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ15).

  T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).

Study Arms (2)

The Nature-based Intervention Condition: Roots and Shoots

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention condition, Roots and Shoots, consists of a printed, self-help guidebook that incorporates weekly, evidence-based activities with the aim to improve mental wellbeing. The intervention is a short, four week course for improving low wellbeing and is informed by psychological theory, clinical psychology therapeutic principles and environmental psychology.

Behavioral: Roots and Shoots

Waiting list Control Condition

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the waiting list control group will complete the assessments at the three time points: baseline (T0), at a 2-weeks (T1) and post-intervention (T2). At this point control condition participants will be offered the intervention and will receive a copy of the Roots and Shoots guidebook in the post and will be provided with full access to the additional online resources.

Behavioral: Waiting list

Interventions

Roots and Shoots BEHAVIORAL

Four-week intervention involving a self-help guidebook to improve mental wellbeing.

The Nature-based Intervention Condition: Roots and Shoots

Waiting list BEHAVIORAL

Four-week waiting list period involving treatment as usual.

Waiting list Control Condition

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Participants must score 22 or less on the SWEMWBS scale-indicating low wellbeing-to facilitate clearer assessment of the intervention's consequence on such a measure.
• Participants must be 18+ to take part in the study,
• Participants must have sufficient understanding of the English language, to be able to fully comprehend the measures and intervention tasks, which at present are limited in translation due to methodological constraints.

You may not qualify if:

• Visual or auditory impairments that may impede full engagement with the intervention.
• Receiving formal psychological therapy in the last three months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Exeter: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Exeter

Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QG, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (7)

• Bratman GN, Anderson CB, Berman MG, Cochran B, de Vries S, Flanders J, Folke C, Frumkin H, Gross JJ, Hartig T, Kahn PH Jr, Kuo M, Lawler JJ, Levin PS, Lindahl T, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Mitchell R, Ouyang Z, Roe J, Scarlett L, Smith JR, van den Bosch M, Wheeler BW, White MP, Zheng H, Daily GC. Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Sci Adv. 2019 Jul 24;5(7):eaax0903. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aax0903. eCollection 2019 Jul.

  PMID: 31355340 BACKGROUND

• Fincham GW, Strauss C, Montero-Marin J, Cavanagh K. Effect of breathwork on stress and mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised-controlled trials. Sci Rep. 2023 Jan 9;13(1):432. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-27247-y.

  PMID: 36624160 BACKGROUND

• Owens M, Bunce H. The effect of brief exposure to virtual nature on mental wellbeing in adolescents. Sci Rep. 2023 Oct 18;13(1):17769. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-44717-z.

  PMID: 37853074 BACKGROUND

• Owens M, Bunce HLI. Nature-Based Meditation, Rumination and Mental Wellbeing. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul 26;19(15):9118. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159118.

  PMID: 35897493 BACKGROUND

• Tursi MF, Baes Cv, Camacho FR, Tofoli SM, Juruena MF. Effectiveness of psychoeducation for depression: a systematic review. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2013 Nov;47(11):1019-31. doi: 10.1177/0004867413491154. Epub 2013 Jun 5.

  PMID: 23739312 BACKGROUND

• Uphoff E, Ekers D, Robertson L, Dawson S, Sanger E, South E, Samaan Z, Richards D, Meader N, Churchill R. Behavioural activation therapy for depression in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Jul 6;7(7):CD013305. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013305.pub2.

  PMID: 32628293 BACKGROUND

• van der Watt ASJ, Odendaal W, Louw K, Seedat S. Distant mood monitoring for depressive and bipolar disorders: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry. 2020 Jul 22;20(1):383. doi: 10.1186/s12888-020-02782-y.

  PMID: 32698802 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Study group and participant webspace.

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Waiting Lists

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Appointments and Schedules; Organization and Administration; Health Services Administration

Study Officials

• Matthew Owens, PhD

  University of Exeter

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Outcomes are recorded remotely by the participant, online using the Qualtrics platform.
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This is a pilot randomised controlled trial with two arms; psychological intervention versus waiting list control. The control arm participants will be offered the intervention following the end of the waiting list period.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 11, 2024
• First Posted: July 22, 2024
• Study Start: June 2, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 12, 2024
• Study Completion: August 12, 2024
• Last Updated: December 24, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)