Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| Wuhan Technical University | UNKNOWN |
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Core Purpose: Researchers want to learn if walking in an outdoor green environment helps people recover from mental tiredness and stress better than walking indoors. This study investigates how a 30-minute walk in an outdoor green setting affects the mind and body compared to a 30-minute walk on a treadmill in a room without windows.
The Study Process: The study included 80 healthy young adults between the ages of 18 and 35. Researchers randomly split the participants into two groups.
What is Being Measured: To understand how the environment helps the brain recover, researchers used a "Sensory-to-Appraisal" model to measure several factors.
Why This Matters: The goal of this research is to see if actively noticing an outdoor green environment (sensory harvesting) is the "key" that unlocks mental recovery. By comparing the Outdoor Green group with the Indoor Control group, this study helps us understand why nature is good for public health and how to design better spaces for stress relief.
Study Overview and Theoretical Framework This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the psychophysiological restorative effects of green exercise. The study is grounded in Attention Restoration Theory (ART) and Stress Recovery Theory (SRT). It specifically tests a "Sensory-to-Appraisal" model, which proposes that the restorative benefits of nature are driven by an initial stage of objective sensory information harvesting, followed by subjective restorative appraisal.
Experimental Design A total of 80 healthy young adults (aged 18-35) were recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups with a 1:1 allocation ratio.
Experimental Procedure The experiment followed a five-stage longitudinal design.
Key Measures
Statistical Analysis The study uses a serial mediation model to analyze how the environment intervention influences restorative outcomes through the sequential mediation of NSSI and PRS. Mixed-model ANOVAs are used to compare between-group differences across time points.
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Green Group | Experimental | Participants in this arm perform a standardized 30-minute walk at a moderate pace along a pre-defined route in an outdoor green enviroment. This arm focuses on the effects of exposure to natural environmental stimuli. |
|
| Indoor Control Group | Active Comparator | Participants walk on a treadmill at a fixed moderate speed (4.0-5.5 km/h) with a 1% incline. This specific incline is used to compensate for the lack of air resistance indoors and to more accurately match the physiological energy expenditure of outdoor ground walking. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Green Group | Behavioral | Participants perform a supervised 30-minute walk at a moderate pace (4.0-5.5 km/h) along a pre-defined 2.5 km loop trail within a suburban forest park. The environment is characterized by high canopy cover (>60%) and diverse natural vegetation. To ensure consistency, all sessions are conducted under stable weather conditions (Temperature: 20-26°C; Humidity: 40-60%). Participants walk individually to prevent social interaction, ensuring the restorative experience is derived solely from the individual-nature interaction. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Profile of Mood States - Total Mood Disturbance (ΔTMD) | The POMS TMD is a self-report scale consisting of 6 subscales: Tension, Depression, Anger, Fatigue, Confusion, and Vigor. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale (0 = Not at all to 4 = Extremely). The TMD score is calculated as: (Tension + Depression + Anger + Fatigue + Confusion) - Vigor. The final outcome (ΔTMD) is the difference between the post-intervention TMD score and the pre-intervention (baseline) TMD score [ΔTMD = TMD (Post) - TMD (Pre)]. TMD scores range from -120 to 120. A larger negative ΔTMD value indicates a greater reduction in negative emotions and more significant psychological restoration. | From Baseline (Pre-test) to 30 minutes post-intervention (Post-test) |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Nature Relatedness (NR) | This scale assesses the individual's levels of self-identification and connection with the natural world across three specific dimensions: NR-Self (e.g., "I feel that I am a part of nature"), NR-Experience (e.g., "I enjoy being outdoors, even in unpleasant weather"), and NR-Perspective (e.g., "Animals and plants should have rights similar to humans"). Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). The Nature Relatedness (Final Score) is calculated as the average of all item scores. Total scores range from 6 to 30, where higher scores represent a stronger subjective connection and identification with nature. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Heart Rate (ΔHR) | This measure assesses the physiological stress recovery of participants by monitoring heart rate (measured in beats per minute, bpm). The final outcome is the change in heart rate calculated as [ΔHR = HR (Post) - HR (Pre)]. A decrease in heart rate from T0 to T2 indicates a transition toward parasympathetic nervous system dominance and successful physiological restoration. | From Baseline (T0) to immediately after the 30-minute intervention (T2) |
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Sheng Yan | Wuhan Technical University | Study Director |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wuhan Technical University | Wuhan | Hubei | 430074 | China |
There is no plan to share individual participant data to protect the privacy of the participants and ensure data security.
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D013315 | Stress, Psychological |
| D005222 | Mental Fatigue |
| D060825 | Cognitive Dysfunction |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D001526 | Behavioral Symptoms |
| D001519 | Behavior |
| D005221 | Fatigue |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
Not provided
Not provided
This is a randomized, two-arm, parallel-group controlled trial. Participants are randomly assigned to either the Outdoor Green group or the Indoor Control group with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Each participant stays in their assigned group throughout the study duration and completes a standardized 30-minute walking task in their respective environment (an outdoor forest park versus an indoor laboratory).
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
|
| Indoor Control Group | Behavioral | Participants perform a 30-minute walk on a treadmill in a windowless indoor laboratory. To ensure consistency with the outdoor environment, the laboratory is climate-controlled with a temperature range of 20-26°C and humidity of 40-60%. The treadmill is set to a fixed moderate speed (4.0-5.5 km/h) with a 1% incline. The 1% incline is specifically applied to compensate for the lack of air resistance indoors and to accurately match the physiological energy expenditure and biomechanical demands of outdoor ground walking. The laboratory walls are neutral-colored to eliminate visual nature stimuli. |
|
| Baseline (T0, before intervention) |
| Nature Sensory Sensitivity Index (NSSI) | The NSSI is a composite index designed to quantify objective and subjective sensory information harvesting across three sections:1. Section A: Free Recall: Participants have 2 minutes to list specific natural details perceived through sight, sound, smell, or touch. The score is the total number of valid natural items recalled.2. Section B: Sensory Recognition: A checklist of sensory items (e.g., fragrance of pine, rustling leaves) where participants tick items actually perceived. The score is the number of correct hits, excluding distractors (e.g., traffic noise).3. Section C: Aesthetic Immersion: A 3-item scale assessing immersion and "oneness" with the environment. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).The final NSSI score is a weighted composite of these three sections. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, higher scores indicate a greater volume, accuracy, and depth of sensory stimuli captured during the intervention. | Immediately after the 10-minute intervention (T1) |
| Change in Perceived Restorativeness Scale (ΔPRS) | This scale assesses the participant's subjective perception of the environment's restorative qualities across four dimensions: Being Away, Fascination, Extent, and Compatibility. Each item is rated on a 5-point scale (1 = Not at all to 5 = Extremely). The final outcome (ΔPRS) is calculated as the difference between the post-intervention score and the pre-intervention baseline score [ΔPRS = PRS (Post) - PRS (Pre)]. The score for this change measure ranges from -4 to 4 (based on the average score difference). A positive ΔPRS indicates an increase in the perceived restorative quality of the environment. | From Baseline (T0) to Immediately after the 10-minute intervention (T1) |
| Change in Total Digit Span Score (ΔDigit Span) | This measure assesses the restoration of attention and working memory through two tasks: Digit Span Forward (Part A) and Digit Span Backward (Part B). For each task, participants are tested on span lengths from 3 to 9 digits, with two trials provided for each length. The Total Digit Span Score is the sum of the maximum spans or total successful trials from both tasks (A+B). The total score for this measure ranges from 0 to 18. The final outcome is the change score calculated as [ΔDigit Span = Digit Span (Post) - Digit Span (Pre)]. An increase in the score represents improved cognitive focus and restoration of directed attention. | From Baseline (T0) to immediately after the 30-minute intervention (T2) |
| Change in Self-Esteem (ΔSelf-Esteem) | This scale measures the participant's state self-esteem and sense of self-worth based on their feelings "RIGHT NOW". It consists of 4 items assessing self-worth, positive qualities, attitude toward oneself, and self-satisfaction. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale (1=Strongly Disagree to 4=Agree). The total self-esteem score ranges from 4 to 16. The final outcome (ΔSelf-Esteem) is calculated as the difference between the post-intervention score and the pre-intervention baseline score [ΔSelf-Esteem = Self-Esteem (Post) - Self-Esteem (Pre)]. The score for this change measure ranges from -12 to 12. A positive ΔSelf-Esteem indicates an improvement in the individual's sense of self-worth following the intervention. | From Baseline (T0) to immediately after the 30-minute intervention (T2) |
| Change in Salivary Cortisol (ΔCortisol) | This measure assesses the biological stress response by measuring the concentration of cortisol in saliva, which reflects the activity of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. Saliva samples are collected using a swab and analyzed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The concentration is typically measured in nmol/L or μg/dL. The final outcome is the change in cortisol levels calculated as [ΔCortisol = Cortisol (T2) - Cortisol (T0)]. A decrease in cortisol concentration indicates a reduction in physiological stress and a successful restorative effect of the environment. | From Baseline (T0) to immediately after the 30-minute intervention (T2) |
| D013568 |
| Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
| D003072 | Cognition Disorders |
| D019965 | Neurocognitive Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |