Effects of Forest Therapy on Physical and Psychological Parameters in the General Population - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In recent years, nature and forest therapy has increasingly become the focus of medical research. Recent scientific findings indicate overall positive effects of nature and forest therapy on physical and mental health. In Asia and Australia, it has already been implemented as a public health concept of prevention and health promotion. The aim of the project is to replicate the experience gained in Asia over the last three decades on the physical and psychological effects of nature/forest therapy in the context of the German forest and to investigate it further scientifically.

Official Title
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Effects of Forest Therapy on Physical and Psychological Parameters in the General Population - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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General Population (no Specific Condition or Disease)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Active forest therapy
* Behavioral: Passive forest therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: - Ability to Consent Exclusion Criteria: Serious acute or chronic illness Immobility or limitation of mobility due to orthopedic, neurologic, or other medical causes Participation in another study Serious mental illness Pregnancy and lactation.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Active forest therapy<br> | Behavioral: Active forest therapy<br>* Participants take part in a two-hour active clinical forest therapy in Berlin-Wannsee on two days (with a break day in between). In this setting, a trained clinical forest therapist teaches exercises on the perception of nature and the connection between nature and health.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Passive forest therapy<br> | Behavioral: Passive forest therapy<br>* Participants take part in a two-hour passive clinical forest therapy in Berlin-Wannsee over two days (with a break day in between). In this setting, a trained clinical forest therapist will guide participants to various locations in the forest where participants can stay and let nature have its effect on them.<br>|
| No Intervention: Waiting list<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Profile of Mood States (POMS) |  | Change from baseline POMS score at 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Profile of Mood States (POMS) |  | Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months | 
| Perceived Benefits of Nature Questionnaire (PBNQ) |  | Baseline, 1 week, 3 months | 
| Subjective Vitality Scale state (SVS-G state) |  | Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months | 
| Complaint List (B-LR) |  | Baseline, 1 week, 3 months | 
| Perceive Stress Questionaire (PSQ) |  | Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months | 
| Freiburger Fragebogen zur Achtsamkeit (FFA) |  | Baseline, 1 week, 3 months | 
| Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) | The scale ranges from 0 to 3. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of anxiety and/or depression. | Baseline, 1 week, 3 months | 
| Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) | The scale ranges from 0 to 4. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of perceived stress. | Baseline, 1 week, 3 months | 
| Allgemeine Selbstwirksamkeit Kurzskala (ASKU) | The scale ranges from 1 to 5. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes. | Baseline, 1 week, 3 months | 
| State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) | The scale ranges from 1 to 8. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of anxiety (after recoding three inverted items). | Baseline, day 1, day 3, 1 week, 3 months | 
| PROMIS Scale v1.2 - Global Health | The scale ranges from 1 to 5, where 1 is the lowest level and 5 is the highest level. Higher scores reflect better functioning. | Baseline, 1 week, 3 months |