NCT06904976

Nature-Focused Mindfulness and Spiritual Well-being Among Adults with Moderate Prolonged Grief Symptoms

Nature-Focused Mindfulness and Spiritual Well-being Among Adults with Moderate Prolonged Grief Symptoms: a Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 230 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Twente · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether a nature-focused mindfulness intervention can enhance spiritual well-being and reduce grief symptoms among adults with moderate prolonged grief symptoms. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does a nature-focused mindfulness intervention improve spiritual well-being compared to an active control condition (noticing nature) and a waitlist control condition? Does a nature-focused mindfulness intervention reduce grief severity and improve mental well-being, nature connectedness, selflessness, ability to adapt, personal recovery, and elevation compared to control conditions? How do spiritual well-being, ability to adapt, nature connectedness, selflessness, grief reactions, and positive/negative affect change during the intervention period? Researchers will compare a nature-focused mindfulness intervention to both a noticing-nature active control group and a waitlist control group to isolate mindfulness-specific effects from possible general nature exposure benefits. Participants will: Complete baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments (at one and three months) Engage in either 10 sessions of nature-focused mindfulness practice or noticing nature activities over a two-week period (intervention and active control groups) Provide daily diary responses about their experiences throughout the 14-day intervention period

Conditions

• Grief
• Spiritual Wellbeing

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Nature-focused mindfulness	The intervention consisted of a daily 30-minute self-guided practice structured in three parts: (1) participants first walked mindfully for 10 minutes in a natural environment of their choosing (e.g., local park, forest, garden), (2) upon reaching a suitable location, they engaged in a 10-minute guided mindfulness practice, and (3) concluded with a 10-minute mindful walk back.
BEHAVIORAL	Noticing-nature	Participants allocated to the noticing-nature active control group will be instructed to walk in nature for 30 minutes per day and pay attention to how the natural objects/scenes they encounter in their daily surroundings make them feel over the 14-day period.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-24
• Primary completion: 2025-09-09
• Completion: 2025-09-09
• First posted: 2025-04-01
• Last updated: 2025-04-01