Comparing the Effects of Indoor vs. Outdoor Horticultural Therapy on College Students
1 other identifier
interventional
120
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This study used a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effects of different forms of horticultural group interventions on college students' depression, anxiety and subjective well-being, and the internal mechanisms of the effects. Participants are required to complete the following tasks: Attend one indoor/outdoor group gardening activity per week, lasting 2 hours each session, for a total of 8 weeks. Complete psychological scale assessments at five time points: before the activity begins, at 4 weeks after the start, upon completion of the activity, and at 1 week and 2 weeks after completion.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable healthy
Started Mar 2025
Typical duration for not_applicable healthy
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
March 4, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
March 20, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
April 30, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
May 30, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 1, 2026
April 30, 2025
March 1, 2025
1.2 years
March 4, 2025
April 22, 2025
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (4)
Depression
The Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9): This scale consists of 9 items, each rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating more severe depressive symptoms in the subject.
From enrollment to 2 weeks after the completion of the 8-week treatment Edit Copy Outcome
Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7): This scale consists of 7 items, each rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety symptoms in the subjects.
From enrollment to 2 weeks after the completion of the 8-week treatment
Positive And Negative Affective
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS): This scale consists of 20 items, including 10 positive affect items and 10 negative affect items, with each item rated on a Likert five-point scale. Higher scores on the positive affect items indicate higher levels of positive affect in the participants, while higher scores on the negative affect items indicate higher levels of negative affect in the participants.
From enrollment to 2 weeks after the completion of the 8-week treatment
Life satisfaction
The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS): This scale consists of 5 items, each rated on a 7-point Likert scale, with higher scores indicating greater life satisfaction among participants.
From enrollment to 2 weeks after the completion of the 8-week treatment
Secondary Outcomes (8)
Resilience
From enrollment to 2 weeks after the completion of the 8-week treatment
Loneliness
From enrollment to 2 weeks after the completion of the 8-week treatment
Sense of control
From enrollment to 2 weeks after the completion of the 8-week treatment
Avoidance
From enrollment to 2 weeks after the completion of the 8-week treatment
Self-concept
From enrollment to 2 weeks after the completion of the 8-week treatment
- +3 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (4)
outdoor-horticultural
EXPERIMENTALThe participants in outdoor horticultural therapy engaged in weekly horticultural therapy activities outdoors for a total duration of eight weeks.
indoor-Horticultural
EXPERIMENTALThe participants in indoor horticultural therapy engaged in therapeutic gardening activities indoors once a week for a total duration of eight weeks.
General Psychological Group
PLACEBO COMPARATORParticipants in the control group attended weekly psychological group sessions (without horticultural elements) for a total duration of eight weeks.
Blank control group
NO INTERVENTIONThese participants did not engage in any psychological activities; they only regularly took part in questionnaire completion.
Interventions
Students are randomly assigned to the Outdoor Horticultural Therapy group, where they will receive outdoor horticultural therapy for eight weeks
Students are randomly assigned to the indoor horticultural therapy group, where they will receive indoor horticultural therapy for 8 weeks
Students were randomly assigned to general group groups to participate in an 8-week mental health group activity
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- \- University students
You may not qualify if:
- Diagnosed with a mental disorder
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Ye Zhiyinlead
Study Sites (1)
Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, Beijing 100875
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Teaching assistant
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
March 4, 2025
First Posted
April 30, 2025
Study Start
March 20, 2025
Primary Completion (Estimated)
May 30, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
June 1, 2026
Last Updated
April 30, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-03