Clinical trial NCT06633367: Nature IDEAS Study: an RCT to Increase Time Spent in Nature Among University Students
Official title: Nature Dose Equity for Students
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Mental Health
Keywords: Mental Health
Nature
Young Adults
Lead sponsor: Michigan State University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Cleveland State University
name: Clemson University
name: University of Virginia
name: University of Maryland
name: University of Maryland Eastern Shore
name: Morgan State University
name: University of New Mexico
name: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University
name: REI Cooperative Action Fund
name: Medical College of Wisconsin
First posted: 2024-10-09
Enrollment: 1500
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 24
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: The investigators will determine nature opportunities at each school using park and sports field mapping, remote sensing, and tree canopy assessment within 30 miles of campuses to identify disparities. As Fall semester starts, the investigators will recruit 160 students/school for an RCT. Students will complete baseline surveys on nature connectedness, nature belongingness, mental health, and demographics. Students will download the NatureDose™ app, which uses 30+ datasets and machine learning models to quantify nature. The app calculates how much nature is near users whenever they are outdoors, and weekly minutes in nature. App data will be collected over a 2-week baseline period, after which students will be randomized to receive 1) standard information about the health benefits of nature or 2) standard health information, a request to increase time in nature, eligibility to receive a prize, and information on peer performance. After 2 weeks, students will repeat baseline surveys.
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: This project will first examine nature opportunities, belonging and benefits with a multi-state nature-based intervention with a focus on students of color. In light of the syndemic, 'nature deficit disorder' and poor mental health, the investigators anticipate several far-reaching impacts that will (a) test a nationally useful standardized way to quantify exposure; (b) invest in nature resources and accessibility on campuses; and (c) promote the mental health and therapeutic benefits of nature among young adults. These will lead to understanding the nature exposure and mental health interplay and techniques for quantifying and encouraging nature exposure to treat the on-going youth mental health crisis. Including HBCUs and an hispanic-serving institution is expected to result in heightened visibility of underlying disparities, including structural racism and land-based violence and discrimination, that have contributed to current-day nature gaps and dismantled nature relationships for students of color.

Detailed description: America faces a syndemic of youth 'nature deficit disorder' and poor mental health. These conditions can be improved by nature contact, but the outdoors is not equally accessible, particularly for students of color. This study leverages the NatureDose™ app to identify racial/ethnic inequities in nature opportunities, belonging, and benefits and conduct an RCT to improve mental health and address disparities by getting university students outdoors into nature. The investigators will test 3 over-arching questions:

1. Are there differences in nature opportunities and/or belongingness for White versus students of color?
2. Does more time in nature correlate with greater feelings of nature connectedness, belongingness, and better mental health?
3. Is a nature-based intervention that leverages NatureDoseTM a cost-effective way to improve mental health, particularly for students of color?

This project has two stages. 1) We will determine nature opportunities at each institution using park and sports field mapping, remote sensing, and tree canopy assessment within 30 miles of campuses to identify disparities. 2) As Fall semester starts, we will recruit 160 students/site for a randomized controlled trial (N=1,440 total, giving 80% power to detect effects down to Cohen's d=0.2 even with attrition). Students will complete baseline surveys on nature connectedness (NR-6), nature belongingness (validated scale for university students), mental health (distress, worry, positive/negative affect), and demographics. Next, students will download the NatureDose™ app, which uses 30+ datasets and machine learning models to quantify nature. The app calculates how much nature is near users whenever they are outdoors, and weekly minutes in nature. App data will be collected over a 2-week baseline period, after which students will be randomized to receive 1) standard information about the health benefits of nature (50%) (Active Control) or 2) standard health information, a request to increase weekly minutes in nature, eligibility for a prize, and peer performance comparison. After 2 weeks, students will repeat baseline surveys.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Undergraduate student
* 18-24 years of age
* Lives within 30 miles of university campus

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not an undergraduate student
* Under 18 or over 24 years of age
* Lives \> 30 miles from the university campus

Primary outcomes:
measure: Kessler-6
timeFrame: From enrollment to end of participation phase, 4 weeks.
measure: Worry
timeFrame: from enrollment to the final survey (4 week period)
measure: Positive and Negative Affect Scale
timeFrame: from emrollment to the final survey (4 week period)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: NR-6
timeFrame: From enrollment to the final survey (4 week period)
measure: Access to Nature scale
timeFrame: from enrollment to the final survey (4 week period)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Baltimore
country: United States
facility: Morgan State University
state: Maryland
city: College Park
country: United States
facility: University of Maryland
state: Maryland
city: Salisbury
country: United States
facility: University of Maryland Eastern Shore
state: Maryland
city: East Lansing
country: United States
facility: Michigan State University
state: Michigan
city: Albequerque
country: United States
facility: University of New Mexico
state: New Mexico
city: Greensboro
country: United States
facility: North Carolina A&amp;amp;T University
state: North Carolina
city: Cleveland
country: United States
facility: Cleveland State University
state: Ohio
city: Clemson
country: United States
facility: Clemson University
state: South Carolina
city: Charlottesville
country: United States
facility: University of Virginia
state: Virginia
Study officials:
References: