The Effects of Nature-Based Activity vs. Indoor Exercise on Cognitive, Psychological, and Physiological Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Reading
- Enrollment
- 69
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Sustained attention
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the comparative effects of nature-based versus indoor exercise interventions on cognitive performance, psychological well-being, and physiological stress in Malaysian adults. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) active nature engagement (walking outdoors), (2) passive nature engagement (seated outdoor observation), (3) indoor treadmill walking, or (4) a no-intervention control group. The study will examine changes in attention, working memory, affect, blood pressure, body composition, and salivary cortisol across baseline, mid-point, and post-intervention assessments.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Adults (≥18 years old)
- •Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- •Normal or corrected-to-normal hearing
- •Physically fit - able to walk unassisted for at least 30 minutes
Exclusion Criteria
- •Participants with limited mobility that prevents outdoor activities
- •Participants who do not have adequate comprehension in English necessary to participate in measurement of outcomes
Arms & Interventions
Active Nature Engagement
Outdoor walking in a designated urban park, 3 times/week for 4 weeks, 30 minutes/session
Intervention: Active Nature Engagement (Behavioral)
Passive Nature Engagement
Sitting quietly and observing nature, with grounding exercise, 3 times/week for 4 weeks, 30 minutes/session
Intervention: Passive Nature Engagement (Behavioral)
Indoor Exercise
Treadmill walking indoors under controlled conditions, 3 times/week for 4 weeks, 30 minutes/session
Intervention: Indoor Exercise (Behavioral)
Control
No exposure to intervention between baseline and post-test
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Sustained attention
Time Frame: 1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4)
Sustained attention to response task (SART) will be used to measure sustained attention. Participants will be presented with a series of single digits (1-9) displayed one at a time on a computer screen. The digit appears in a random order at a fixed interval. They will be instructed to press the spacebar as quickly as possible every time they see any digit except the target digit (i.e., the digit 3). Participants are instructed to withhold their response when the target digit appears.
Salivary cortisol
Time Frame: 1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4)
Participants' salivary cortisol will be collected using the passive drool method in sampling tubes. The samples were then be sent to the laboratory for measurement of cortisol in saliva, as an indicator for participants' stress level.
Working memory
Time Frame: 1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4)
Digit span backward (DSB) will be used to measure working memory. A series of digits will be presented sequentially, and the participants will be asked to repeat them in backward order. Sequences were 2 to 8 digits, and there will be a total of 14 trials (with 2 trials for each length).
Sustained attention
Time Frame: 1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4)
Sustained attention to response task (SART) will be used to measure sustained attention. Participants will be presented with a series of single digits (1-9) displayed one at a time on a computer screen. The digit appears in a random order at a fixed interval. They will be instructed to press the spacebar as quickly as possible every time they see any digit except the target digit (i.e., the digit 3). Participants are instructed to withhold their response when the target digit appears.
Salivary cortisol
Time Frame: 1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4)
Participants' salivary cortisol will be collected using the passive drool method in sampling tubes. The samples were then be sent to the laboratory for measurement of cortisol in saliva, as an indicator for participants' stress level.
Working memory
Time Frame: 1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4)
Digit span backward (DSB) will be used to measure working memory. A series of digits will be presented sequentially, and the participants will be asked to repeat them in backward order. Sequences were 2 to 8 digits, and there will be a total of 14 trials (with 2 trials for each length).
Secondary Outcomes
- Blood pressure(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Daily calorie intake(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Metabolic age(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Nature relatedness(Baseline (Week 0))
- Creativity(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Positive and negative affect(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Stress level(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Blood pressure(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Body weight(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Executive functioning(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Muscle mass(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Total body water percentage(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Executive functioning(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Creativity(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Positive and negative affect(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Stress level(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Body weight(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Muscle mass(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Body fat percentage(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Visceral fat level(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Total body water percentage(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Daily calorie intake(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Metabolic age(1) Baseline (Week 0) 2) Midpoint (Week 2) 3) Post-intervention (Week 4))
- Nature relatedness(Baseline (Week 0))
Investigators
Tan Kok Wei
Dr.
University of Reading