An interventional study of Nature based solution for stress reduction in Stress, Neurocognition and Psychological, sponsored by Hasselt University. Status unknown at 1 site in Belgium. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-02-21.
Sponsored by Hasselt University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
The number of students with psychological problems is on the rise, due to a combination of increasing performance pressure, high expectations, difficulties handling stress, social pressure, and studying. Spending time in a green space has been shown to have positive effects on the mental and general health. This project aims to alleviate the symptoms of mental fatigue and stress related disorders such as burn out in students by offering a nature-based activity.
Participants are asked to take a thirty-minute walk in a nature-based area for five consecutive days, followed by a control period (regular schedule of the participant) for five days, or vice versa. The investigators test stress-related parameters including concentration tests, cognitive tests, cortisol levels, and cardiovascular measurements.
This project aims study the effectiveness of nature-based solutions on the prevention of stress-related symptoms due to high study pressure in students. A nature-based physical activity is recommended once a day to prevent stress build-up and positively influence the cardiovascular system. Participants are randomized into two groups: the first group of participants are asked to walk a nature-based route near the University campus for thirty minutes per day for two weeks (phase 1). After each activity-based phase, a washout period of one week is implemented to avoid carry-over of results (phase 2 and 4). In the third phase, the participants are asked to resume their daily activities for two weeks (control). The second group undergo the same phases but reversed: participants start with two weeks of their usual daily activities, followed by two weeks of nature-based activity. After each phase, the investigators measure neurocognition through neurocognitive tests, the emotional status through detailed questionnaires and assess stress levels through cardiovascular measurements, including salivary cortisol levels of saliva collected upon awakening, 30 min after waking and at 8 pm.
Hasselt University is the lead sponsor of 195 studies on the registry; 31 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
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Phase 1: Two weeks of green space intervention Phase 2: One week wash out period Resume daily activities Phase 3: Two weeks of 'daily activities' Regular, daily activities are resumed by the participants Phase 4: One week wash out period Resume daily activities Between each phase, detailed questionnaires, neurocognitive tests and cardiovascular measurements are taken from the participants.
Other: Nature based solution for stress reduction
Phase 1: Two weeks of 'daily activities' Regular, daily activities are resumed by the participants Phase 2: One week wash out period Resume daily activities Phase 3: Two weeks of green space intervention Phase 4: One week wash out period Resume daily activities Between each phase, detailed questionnaires, neurocognitive tests and cardiovascular measurements are taken from the participants.
Other: Nature based solution for stress reduction
participation in nature activities: daily 30 min walking in nature
General health
An questionnaire is used to collect sociodemographic data and life-style factors, including movement data and health of the participant
Time frame: 5 minutes
Stress levels
Assessed via questionnaires (the burn out assessment tool (score 1-5) and general health questionnaire (score 0-12) and Five Item Well Being Index (score 0-100). Scores are used as continuous variables. Lower scores represent a lower risk of burn out, higher scores represent a higher risk of burnout. The score is constructed from questions concerning exhaustion, mental distance, emotional disorder(s), and cognitive disorder(s).
Time frame: 10 minutes
cortisol level (stress levels)
Assessed by salivary cortisol levels. Scale is µg/dl and used as a continuous variable.
Time frame: 5 minutes
visual memory
Computerized tests (eye-tracking test). The scale is pupil size, spontaneous blinking rate and eye movements and is used as a continuous variable.
Time frame: 5 minutes
selective attention
Computerized tests (stroop test). The scale is mean reaction time and is used as a continuous variable.
Time frame: 5 minutes
short-term memory
Computerized tests (Digit Span Test). The scale is number of digits and is used as a continuous variable.
Time frame: 10minutes
visual information processing speed
Computerized tests (Digit Symbol Test). The scale is number of digits and is used as a continuous variable.
Time frame: 5 minutes
visual information processing speed
Computerized tests (Pattern Comparison test). The scale is reaction time and is used as a continuous variable.
Time frame: 5 minutes
Heart rate variability
The heart rate is monitored throughout the entire baseline and follow-up visit through a small patch attached to the participant's skin. The results is used as a continuous variable in milliseconds (ms).
Time frame: 30 minutes
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is measured through an automated system. The results is used as a continuous variable in mmHg.
Time frame: 5 minutes
Plan to share: No — Data is pseudonymized. Data will then only be shared with the predoctoral researchers involved in this project, within our research group.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
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Hasselt University