Benefits of Outdoor Walks in Reducing Depressive Symptoms

NCT ID: NCT06989801

Last Updated: 2025-05-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 180 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-04-11
• Study Completion Date: 2025-12-27

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether outdoor walking in different environments-urban or natural-can reduce depressive symptoms among college students. The study also tests whether providing prompts for active engagement during nature walks enhances the benefits compared to unstructured nature walks.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) urban walk, (2) nature walk, or (3) active nature walk with guided interaction. Each participant will walk for 30 minutes, twice a week, for 3 weeks, complete questionnaires, and participate in interviews.

Our primary outcome (PHQ-9) will be used to test the following two primary hypotheses:

• Hypothesis 1: Participants in both nature walk conditions (combined) will show greater reductions in depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) than those in the urban walk group.
• Hypothesis 2: Participants in the active nature walk will show greater reductions than those in the regular nature walk.

Detailed Description

The investigators aim to compare how walking in different outdoor environments influences depressive symptoms among college students. Specifically, the investigators will assess:

1. walking in an urban environment (like a busy city street),

2. walking in a natural environment regularly (e.g., walking without specific guidance), and

3. walking in a natural environment with guided interaction prompts (e.g., noticing birds, listening to sounds, touching flowers).

Standardized questionnaires will measure changes in depressive symptoms, anxiety, affect, cognitive flexibility, nature connection, and Presence across all three groups.

The investigators will also explore potential mechanisms behind any observed effects, including interaction patterns, presence, cognitive changes, and emotional responses to the different environments.

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Urban Walk

Regular walks in an urban area, 30 minutes twice a week for 3 weeks.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Urban Walk

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

For each session, participants will take a 30-minute walk in an urban environment along a designated looped route. They will walk at a comfortable pace and follow the assigned path. During the walk, participants will be instructed to experience their surroundings as naturally as possible. No specific activities beyond walking are required.

To fully immerse in the experience, participants will be asked to avoid using their phones unless necessary (e.g., in case of an emergency). They should keep the GPS app recording throughout the walk without interacting with it-just allow it to run in the background.

Once the loop is completed, participants will stop the GPS recording and return to the starting point, where a research team member will be waiting. They will then be guided indoors to complete a brief post-walk survey and participate in a short interview to share their experience.

Nature Walk

Regular walks in a natural area, 30 minutes twice a week for 3 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Nature Walk

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

For each session, participants will take a 30-minute walk in a natural environment along a designated looped route. They will walk at a comfortable pace and follow the assigned path. During the walk, participants will be instructed to experience their surroundings as naturally as possible. No specific activities beyond walking are required.

To fully immerse in the experience, participants will be asked to avoid using their phones unless necessary (e.g., in case of an emergency). They should keep the Gaia GPS app recording throughout the walk without interacting with it-just allow it to run in the background.

Once the loop is completed, participants will stop the GPS recording and return to the starting point, where a research team member will be waiting. They will then be guided indoors to complete a brief post-walk survey and participate in a short interview to share their experience.

Active Nature Walk

Regular walks in a natural area, 30 minutes twice a week for 3 weeks. Prior to the walk, participants will be instructed to actively interact with the natural environment.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Active Nature Walk

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

For each session, participants will take a 30-minute walk in a natural area, following a designated looped route. Unlike a regular walk, participants will be encouraged to engage with nature (e.g., listening to natural sounds, looking for birds, and touching flowers).

To make the most of the walk, participants will be asked to avoid using their phones unless necessary (e.g., in case of an emergency). They should keep the Gaia GPS app recording throughout the walk without interacting with it-just letting it run in the background.

Once the loop is completed, participants will stop the GPS recording and return to the starting point, where a research team member will be waiting. They will then be guided indoors to complete a brief post-walk survey and participate in a short interview to share their experience.

Interventions

Urban Walk

For each session, participants will take a 30-minute walk in an urban environment along a designated looped route. They will walk at a comfortable pace and follow the assigned path. During the walk, participants will be instructed to experience their surroundings as naturally as possible. No specific activities beyond walking are required.

To fully immerse in the experience, participants will be asked to avoid using their phones unless necessary (e.g., in case of an emergency). They should keep the GPS app recording throughout the walk without interacting with it-just allow it to run in the background.

Once the loop is completed, participants will stop the GPS recording and return to the starting point, where a research team member will be waiting. They will then be guided indoors to complete a brief post-walk survey and participate in a short interview to share their experience.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Nature Walk

For each session, participants will take a 30-minute walk in a natural environment along a designated looped route. They will walk at a comfortable pace and follow the assigned path. During the walk, participants will be instructed to experience their surroundings as naturally as possible. No specific activities beyond walking are required.

To fully immerse in the experience, participants will be asked to avoid using their phones unless necessary (e.g., in case of an emergency). They should keep the Gaia GPS app recording throughout the walk without interacting with it-just allow it to run in the background.

Once the loop is completed, participants will stop the GPS recording and return to the starting point, where a research team member will be waiting. They will then be guided indoors to complete a brief post-walk survey and participate in a short interview to share their experience.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Active Nature Walk

For each session, participants will take a 30-minute walk in a natural area, following a designated looped route. Unlike a regular walk, participants will be encouraged to engage with nature (e.g., listening to natural sounds, looking for birds, and touching flowers).

To make the most of the walk, participants will be asked to avoid using their phones unless necessary (e.g., in case of an emergency). They should keep the Gaia GPS app recording throughout the walk without interacting with it-just letting it run in the background.

Once the loop is completed, participants will stop the GPS recording and return to the starting point, where a research team member will be waiting. They will then be guided indoors to complete a brief post-walk survey and participate in a short interview to share their experience.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• College students in Seattle
• Aged over 18.
• Having depressive symptoms with self-rated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scored higher than 5.
• Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity.
• No identified hearing impairment.
• No history of neurological or mental disorders.

Exclusion Criteria

• Receiving clinical psychiatric treatment or psychological counseling.
• Failing in providing consent form.

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

Sponsors

University of Washington

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Xuanyi Wang

PhD Student, Department of Psychology

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Xuanyi Wang

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Washington

Locations

Condon Hall

Seattle, Washington, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Merrill Hall

Seattle, Washington, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Xuanyi Wang

Role: CONTACT

wangxyi@uw.edu

206 843 7335

Peter H Kahn, Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

pkahn@u.washington.edu

206 616 9395

Facility Contacts

Peter H Kahn, Prof.

Role: primary

pkahn@uw.edu

206-616-9395

Peter H Kahn, Prof.

Role: primary

pkahn@uw.edu

206-616-9395

Other Identifiers

STUDY00022242

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id