The Effects of Walking in Nature (vs. an Urban Setting) on the Wellbeing of Postsecondary Students.

NCT ID: NCT05889078

Last Updated: 2023-06-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-11-09
• Study Completion Date: 2023-05-30

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to examine the effects of a walking intervention (3 walks per week for a period of 4 weeks) in a nature vs. urban setting on the wellbeing of young adult postsecondary students. We will examine changes in positive and negative affect for participants assigned to the nature condition vs those assigned to the urban condition (primary outcome). We will also examine changes in reported depression and anxiety symptoms, perceived stress levels, sleep quality, mindfulness and wellbeing (secondary outcome).

Conditions

Affect; Wellness, Psychological; Depressive Symptoms; Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms; Stress; Sleep; Non-suicidal Self-injury

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Nature condition

Participants will walk in a nature setting 3x per week for a period of 4 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

A 4-week walking intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will walk along a predetermined route 3 times per week for a period of 4 weeks, answering a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire as well as weekly questionnaires measuring their affect and other variables related to wellbeing. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions (nature vs urban setting), determining whether the predetermined route they will walk is in a nature or urban setting.

Urban condition

Participants will walk in an urban setting 3x per week for a period of 4 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

A 4-week walking intervention

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants will walk along a predetermined route 3 times per week for a period of 4 weeks, answering a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire as well as weekly questionnaires measuring their affect and other variables related to wellbeing. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions (nature vs urban setting), determining whether the predetermined route they will walk is in a nature or urban setting.

Interventions

A 4-week walking intervention

Participants will walk along a predetermined route 3 times per week for a period of 4 weeks, answering a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire as well as weekly questionnaires measuring their affect and other variables related to wellbeing. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions (nature vs urban setting), determining whether the predetermined route they will walk is in a nature or urban setting.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• aged 18-25 years
• speaks English
• had working smartphone that can track walk routes using a smartphone application

Exclusion Criteria

• inability to walk for 45 minutes due to serious medical reasons (eg surgery)
• heart condition

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 25 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

McGill University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Marie-Claude Geoffroy

Dr Marie-Claude Geoffroy, assistant professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Countries

Canada

Other Identifiers

IUSMD-18-33 Phase 2

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id