GARDENING ACTIVITIES, STRESS, AND SOCIAL INTERACTION IN COLLEGE STUDENTS

NCT07753109 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2026/06-11
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study is a quasi-experimental research project with a pretest-posttest control group design, structured to determine the effect of organized gardening activities on peer interaction, stress levels, and nature engagement behaviors among university students.The population of the research consists of students from the Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) at Bingol University. The sample size, determined via G\*Power analysis (including a 20% anticipated drop-out rate), comprises a total of 100 volunteer students, divided into an intervention group (n = 50) and a control group (n = 50).The intervention group will participate in a structured program held twice weekly for 1 month (totaling 8 sessions, 60-90 minutes each) in the VSHS garden, encompassing soil preparation, paired seedling planting, group-oriented maintenance, and landscaping activities. The control group will maintain their routine campus life.Data will be collected using a Personal Information Form, the Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (Coping with Stress), the University Life Scale (Peer Relations Subscale), and the Connectedness to Nature Scale. The data will be evaluated through homogeneity tests and parametric/non-parametric comparative analyses (t-tests, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney U).Contingency plans (Plan B)-such as indoor potted plant/terrarium workshops and buffer sample recruitment-are established to address adverse weather conditions, sample attrition, and seasonal risks.

Conditions

Psychosocial Wellbeing; Perceived Stress; Peer Interaction in University Students

Keywords

Gardening Activities; Horticultural Therapy; Perceived Stress; Peer Interaction; Nature Engagement; University Students; Quasi-Experimental Study

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Perceived Stress and Coping Self-Efficacy

  Evaluated using the Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale (Coping with Stress). Higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy in coping with stress. Changes from baseline to post-intervention at 4 weeks will be assessed

  Baseline (Pretest) and Immediately Post-Intervention at Week 4 (Posttest)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Peer Interaction and Social Adjustment

  Baseline (Pretest) and Immediately Post-Intervention at Week 4 (Posttest)

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group: Gardening Activities

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the intervention group will participate in a structured campus-based gardening program conducted over a period of 1 month, consisting of 2 sessions per week (a total of 8 sessions, lasting 60-90 minutes each). Activities include soil preparation, paired seedling planting, group-oriented maintenance, and campus landscaping tasks in the Vocational School of Health Services garden

Behavioral: Campus-Based Gardening Program

Control Group: Routine Campus Life

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in the control group will receive no active gardening intervention and will maintain their standard academic and campus routines throughout the 1-month study period. Baseline and post-intervention evaluations will be conducted concurrently with the intervention group.

Interventions

Campus-Based Gardening Program BEHAVIORAL

The structured campus-based gardening program will be conducted over a period of 1 month, consisting of 2 sessions per week (a total of 8 sessions, lasting 60-90 minutes each) in the Vocational School of Health Services garden. The program includes soil preparation, paired seedling planting, group-oriented plant care, irrigation, weed management, and campus landscaping activities, all designed to promote peer interaction, nature exposure, and stress reduction.

Intervention Group: Gardening Activities

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Months - 25 Months
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Being an active undergraduate student at Bingol University Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS)
• Being between 18 and 25 years of age
• Providing written informed consent to participate in the study
• Having no physical disability or chronic illness preventing outdoor physical activity
• Having no known pollen or soil allergies

You may not qualify if:

• Absence from more than 25% of the sessions (missing more than 2 sessions) during the intervention
• Initiating a new professional psychiatric or psychological treatment process during the study period

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ataturk University: lead

Central Study Contacts

Mahmut Çoban, Assistant Professor, PhD

CONTACT

+905387022343; mahmutcoban@bingol.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: No masking was implemented in this study due to the nature of the behavioral intervention (open-label design).
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor, PhD

Model Details: Intervention Model Description:This study employs a non-randomized, quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design involving two parallel groups (n = 50 intervention group, n = 50 control group).Intervention Group: Participants in the intervention arm will undergo a structured campus-based gardening program conducted over a period of 1 month, consisting of 2 sessions per week (totaling 8 sessions, 60-90 minutes per session). Activities include soil preparation, paired seedling planting, group-oriented plant care, and campus landscaping tasks in the vocational school garden.Control Group: Participants in the control arm will receive no active gardening intervention and will maintain their standard academic and campus routines during the 1-month study period.Baseline assessments (pretests) will be administered to both groups prior to the intervention, and outcome measurements (posttests) will be collected immediately following the completion of the 8-session program.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 4, 2026
• First Posted: August 7, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2027
• Last Updated: August 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share