Biological and Behavioral Outcomes of Community Nature Walks

Phase 1

Recruiting

• Conditions: Stress, Psychological; Stress Reaction; Telomere Shortening
• Interventions: Behavioral: Reclaiming Nature Intervention

• Registration Number: NCT06056375
• Lead Sponsor: Charlotte Tate

Brief Summary

The investigators will test the efficacy of our proposed intervention to reduce embodied stress in four racial/ethnic groups (Black, Latinx, Pilipinx, and Pacific Islander) as a preventative intervention for health disparities found in these communities. The intervention is comprised of two phases. The first consists of community nature walks in a pristine redwood forest for six months. This is followed by chosen nature activities with family and/or friends for three months. The investigators will test the ability of these activities in nature to reduce chronic stress that underpins many health disparities using validated biological, behavioral, and sociocultural measures. The use of these measures is in alignment with the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework, and will increase understanding of individual, interpersonal, community, and social level factors that lead to, and that can eliminate health disparities.

Detailed Description

The investigators will test the efficacy of our proposed intervention to reduce embodied stress in four racial/ethnic groups (Black, Latinx, Pilipinx, and Pacific Islander) as a preventative intervention for health disparities found in these communities. The intervention is comprised of two phases. The first consists of community nature walks in a pristine redwood forest for six months. This is followed by chosen nature activities with family and/or friends for three months. The investigators will test the ability of these activities in nature to reduce chronic stress that underpins many health disparities using validated biological, behavioral, and sociocultural measures. The use of these measures is in alignment with the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework, and will increase understanding of individual, interpersonal, community, and social level factors that lead to, and that can eliminate health disparities.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-02-01
• Status Verified: 2023-09
• Study First Submitted: 2023-09-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-09-20
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-09-20
• Study First Posted: 2023-09-28
• Last Update Posted: 2023-09-28
• Primary Completion: 2024-11-01
• Study Completion: 2026-09-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SEQUENTIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Waitlist Control	Reclaiming Nature Intervention	Waitlist control; all participants receive the treatment but are in a control condition prior to the treatment

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Relative Telomere Length	Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention	Relative Telomere Length in the name of the outcome measure.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Hair cortisol concentration	Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention	Hair cortisol concentration in the name of the outcome measure.
Positive mood (extent of)	Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention	Positive And Negative Affect Scale International version (PANAS-I) (Likert-type self-reported measurement)
Self-reported stress (extent of)	Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention	Cohen Stress Scale (Likert-type self-reported measurement) in the name of the outcome measure.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

San Francisco State University; 🇺🇸 San Francisco, California, United States