NCT03996785

Effectiveness of Nature Walks in Depressed Adults

Investigations of Immediate and Short-term Effects of Nature Walks on Stress and Depression-related Symptoms

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 47 (actual)
• Sponsor: McGill University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Over the past few years, a growing number of campaigns from around the world, including Canada, are highlighting the positive impact of spending time in nature on well-¬being. Indeed, mounting evidence suggests that spending time with nature is associated with a myriad of affective and cognitive benefits. Surprisingly few studies to date have tested the assumption that walking in nature versus in urban settings could alleviate stress and depressive symptoms in clinically depressed adults. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of walking in nature versus in urban settings to improve depression related symptoms and reduce stress. The trial initially included 2 primary outcomes: patients stress levels (salivary cortisol) and depression-related symptoms (eg, affect, rumination, executive functioning). However, due to hygienic concerns in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the collection of saliva samples (and in turn, the measurement of stress levels via salivary cortisol) was removed from the study's procedure. The main outcome was changed to effects on positive and negative affect.

Conditions

• Experimental

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Walking in Urban setting	Walking for 60 minutes as described above
BEHAVIORAL	Walking in nature setting	Walking for 60 minutes as described above

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-06-18
• Primary completion: 2021-09-03
• Completion: 2021-09-03
• First posted: 2019-06-25
• Last updated: 2021-11-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada