Nature Photography for Mental Well-Being and Nature Connectedness in Young Adults

NCT07803367 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Nature Photography
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 300
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

This study tests whether a nature photography intervention can improve mental well-being and nature connectedness in young adults with mild emotional distress, and examines self-compassion as a key mechanism in this process. Participants are randomized to a nature photography group, a human-made object photography group , or a group receiving a stress management handbook. Eight photography tasks are delivered through a mobile platform. Outcomes are assessed at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up.

Conditions

Psychological Distress; Depressive Symptoms; Anxiety Symptoms

Keywords

Nature-Based Photography Intervention; Nature Connectedness; Mental Well-Being; Self-Compassion; Young Adults; Randomized Controlled Trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Depressive Symptoms

  Depressive Symptoms Change in depressive symptoms measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).The PHQ-9 consists of 9 items, with each item rated from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms and represent a worse outcome.

  Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).

• Anxiety Symptoms

  Change in anxiety symptoms measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7).The GAD-7 consists of 7 items, with each item rated from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day).Higher scores indicate greater severity of anxiety symptoms and represent a worse outcome.

  Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Nature Connectedness

  Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).

• Self-Compassion

  Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).

• Positive and Negative Affect

  Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3)

• Meaning in Life

  Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).

Study Arms (3)

Nature-Based Photography Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Nature-Based Photography

Behavioral: Nature-Based Mindful Photography

Human-Made Object Photography Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Human-Made Object Photography

Behavioral: Human-Made Object Photography

Brief Psychoeducational Stress Management Intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Brief Psychoeducational Stress Management

Behavioral: Self-Guided Digital Stress Management Handbook

Interventions

Nature-Based Mindful Photography BEHAVIORAL

Photography Participants complete an 8-session, 16-day nature-based photography intervention delivered through a WeChat mini-program (one session every two days). Each session includes a guided photography theme focused on natural elements, mindfulness and self-compassion prompts, and expressive writing, followed by optional peer support (viewing, liking, and commenting on group members' photographs) and personalized AI-assisted supportive feedback at the end of the session. The intervention is designed to improve mental well-being and strengthen nature connectedness through structured engagement with natural environments.

Nature-Based Photography Intervention

Human-Made Object Photography BEHAVIORAL

Participants complete an 8-session, 16-day photography intervention delivered through a WeChat mini-program, matched to the intervention group on schedule and task structure, but photographing everyday human-made objects (e.g., study tools, architectural details, furniture). Each session includes expressive writing; no nature-focused prompts, peer interaction, or AI-assisted feedback are provided. This condition controls for photography behavior, app engagement, and task contact without the nature exposure or self-compassion components.

Human-Made Object Photography Intervention

Self-Guided Digital Stress Management Handbook BEHAVIORAL

Participants receive a self-guided digital stress management handbook over the 16-day intervention period, covering five structured modules: recognition of physical and emotional stress signals; structured energy and time management (goal decomposition, pomodoro technique, priority matrix); establishing healthy lifestyle routines (sleep hygiene, regular exercise, balanced diet); building interpersonal support networks; and accessing professional help and campus mental health resources. Participants read the handbook at their own pace without photography tasks or interactive components. This condition serves as an active comparator controlling for contact time and expectancy while excluding nature exposure and mindfulness-based self-compassion components.

Brief Psychoeducational Stress Management Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• PHQ-9 score ≥ 5 or GAD-7 score ≥ 5 (presence of mild or greater emotional distress).

You may not qualify if:

• PHQ-9 score ≥20 or GAD-7 score ≥15 (severe depressive or anxiety symptoms).
• Currently receiving psychological counseling or psychiatric treatment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Beijing Normal University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders; Personal Satisfaction

Study Officials

• xue weng

  Study Principal Investigator, Beijing Normal University

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Central Study Contacts

Xue Weng

CONTACT

(86)0756-3683259; xueweng@bnu.edu.cn

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 31, 2026
• First Posted: September 3, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2027
• Last Updated: September 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share