Hybrid- Nature: Recovering From Work Through Nature Experiences

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The research examines employees' recovery from work stress during visits in nearby nature and when viewing virtual nature with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles. The research provides information on the physiological and psychological recovery of employees who do remote or hybrid work. Recovery is analysed with qualitative and quantitative methods including Firstbeat Life measurements, surveys and interviews. The results can be used in workplaces to develop operating models to promote well-being in remote and hybrid work. The research generates new understanding on how employees' recovery can be supported by means of virtual nature tourism services.

Detailed Description
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An intervention study with a cross-over research design will be conducted among a sample of 60 employees who do remote or hybrid work. The intervention phase lasts in total of four weeks. During the first week (control phase), the participants continue their daily routine as normal. During the second week of the intervention, a half of the participants are randomised to visit a nearby natural area after finishing work (exposure to nearby nature). The other half of the participants are randomised to view virtual nature videos with VR goggles after finishing work (exposure to virtual nature). On the third week of the intervention, the participants complete nature exposure the other way around. That is, those participants who took part first in exposure to nearby nature will view virtual nature, and vice versa. On the fourth week of the intervention, the participants take part in a semi-structured focus group interview. Recovering from work in nearby nature and virtual nature is examined through multidisciplinary perspectives of health, well-being, and tourism. The aim of the research is to find new ways of promoting work stress recovery, psychological detachment and restoration among employees when they are making the transition between work time and personal time. These research findings are particularly relevant for fields in which there has been a growing trend for remote or hybrid work. This research is funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund (Project Number: 220076).

Official Title
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Recovering From Work Through Nature Experiences - Heading to the Forest or a Virtual Forest?

Conditions
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Physiological Recovery, Psychological Recovery, Restorative Experiences

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature
* Behavioral: Exposure to virtual nature


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Employees who do remote or hybrid work Able to communicate adequately in Finnish in order to participate Exclusion Criteria: No exclusion criteria for study participation. Firstbeat Life analyses are only available for participants who identify themselves on the basis of biological sex of female or male. Firstbeat Life analyses might be unreliable for participants with some health-related issues (e.g., pacemaker, heart transplantation, complex cardiac disease, persistent atrial fibrillation or flutter, or uncontrolled thyroid disease) and therefore measurements will not be performed for them as a part of this research.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 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: Crossover Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Control, Then exposure to nearby nature, Then exposure to virtual nature<br>During the first week, the participants continue their normal routine at work and in leisure time. On the second week, the participants visit a nearby natural area after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). On the third week, the participants watch virtual nature videos with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). | Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature<br>* Participants spend a minimum of 20 minutes in their favourite place in nearby nature.<br>Behavioral: Exposure to virtual nature<br>* Participants spend a minimum of 20 minutes watching virtual nature videos.<br>|
| Experimental: Control, Then exposure to virtual nature, Then exposure to nearby nature<br>During the first week, the participants continue their normal routine at work and in leisure time. On the second week, the participants watch virtual nature videos with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). On the third week, the participants visit a nearby natural area after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). | Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature<br>* Participants spend a minimum of 20 minutes in their favourite place in nearby nature.<br>Behavioral: Exposure to virtual nature<br>* Participants spend a minimum of 20 minutes watching virtual nature videos.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Psychological recovery | Recovery Experience Questionnaire (REQ), the scores range from 1 to 5, a higher score refers to better psychological recovery. | Three weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Restorative experiences | Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS), the scores range from 1 to 7, a higher score refers to better restoration. | Three weeks | 
| Work engagement | Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), the scores range from 1 to 7, a higher score refers to higher work engagement. | Three weeks | 
| Burnout | Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT), the scores range from 1 to 5, a higher score refers to higher burnout. | Three weeks | 
| Stress recovery | A physiological measure of stress recovery balance, the scores range from 0 to 100, a higher score refers to better physiological stress recovery. | Three weeks | 
| Sleep quality | A physiological measure of the restorative effect of sleep, the scores range from 0 to 100, a higher score refers to better recovery during sleep. | Three weeks | 
| Relax-Stress Intensity | A physiological measure of the Relax-Stress Intensity (RSI), the scores range from -100 to 100, a higher score (+/- 100) refers to a stronger reaction. | Three weeks | 
| Body resources | A physiological measure of body resources, the scores range from 0 to 100, a higher score refers to higher body resources. | Three weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Recovery, Nature, Employees, Work stress, Occupational well-being, Virtual Reality