NCT05889078

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

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Sponsor: McGill University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 25 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

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

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-11-09
• Primary completion: 2023-05-30
• Completion: 2023-05-30
• First posted: 2023-06-05
• Last updated: 2023-06-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada