Measuring the Effectiveness of Forest Therapy to Alleviate Stress Among International Students

NCT06792656 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: QA/109559/VICBH-2024-438742
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 360
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

International students often face high levels of stress, leading to mental health conditions, from factors including cultural and social change, educational system, financial insecurity and family responsibilities. Barriers in seeking support for mental health include stigmatisation and high costs. Single psychotherapy sessions are often unaffordable and pharmaceuticals are often associated with adverse side effects having limited efficacy. Hence, alternative approaches and therapies are needed to manage students' wellbeing. Forest Therapy offers a low-risk lifestyle activity, which is beneficial to physical and mental health through nature exposure and increased social connection. Thus, this research project aims to investigate to which degree guided Forest Therapy sessions may help to prevent or alleviate stress among international students in Victoria. Free Forest Therapy sessions will be offered to international students at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne which is centrally located and can easily be reached by foot, car, bike or Public transport. The sessions will be offered at different dates/times during August, September and October 2024. Next to participating in the guided Forest Therapy sessions, brief surveys will be administered before and after each session which are optional.

Conditions

Stress Disorders; Stress; Anxiety; Anxiety Depression (Mild or Not Persistent); Sleep Deprivation; Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm; Stress, Psychological; Lack of Physical Activity

Keywords

Forest Therapy; Public health; stress; nature-connectedness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Profile of Mood States (POMS)

  pre/post test using psychometric instrument (POMS-16 for adults); 16 items, 5-point Likert-type scale; measuring self-reported levels of stress, anxiety and vigour

  120 min (duration of standardized Forest Therapy session)

Study Arms (1)

2-hrs standardized Forest Therapy session

EXPERIMENTAL

the intervention follows the strict protocol (script) of the INFTA Forest Therapy Guiding Sequence

Other: standardized Forest Therapy session (120 min)

Interventions

standardized Forest Therapy session (120 min) OTHER

standardized, 2-hrs Forest Therapy session following the INFTA Forest Therapy Guiding Sequence

2-hrs standardized Forest Therapy session

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• All international students currently studying, planning to study of having completed their studies at a university in Victoria (Melbourne or regional) are eligible and invited to participate.

You may not qualify if:

• All domestic (Australian) students currently studying, planning to study of having completed their studies at a university in Victoria (Melbourne or regional).
• Participation in this research project is voluntary.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance: lead

Study Sites (1)

International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA)

Newtown, Victoria, 3220, Australia

Location

Related Links

• website of the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Anxiety Disorders; Lymphoma, Follicular; Sleep Deprivation; Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm; Stress, Psychological; Sedentary Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Lymphoma; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Lymphatic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Immunoproliferative Disorders; Immune System Diseases; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Chronobiology Disorders; Occupational Diseases; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Honorary Associate Professor Dr. Dieter Kotte

  International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 16, 2025
• First Posted: January 27, 2025
• Study Start: March 27, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2024
• Study Completion: December 15, 2024
• Last Updated: January 27, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

AU (1)