The Effect of a Nature-based, Self-help Intervention on Mental Wellbeing
NCT Number: NCT06513793
Status: RECRUITING
Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
Phases: NA
Conditions: Low Mental Wellbeing
Interventions: BEHAVIORAL: Roots and Shoots|BEHAVIORAL: Waiting list
Sponsor: University of Exeter
Sex: ALL
Age: ADULT, OLDER_ADULT
Enrollment: 40
Study Design: Allocation: RANDOMIZED|Intervention Model: PARALLEL|Masking: SINGLE (OUTCOMES_ASSESSOR)|Primary Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Start Date: 2024-06-02
Completion Date: 2024-10
Locations: University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QG, United Kingdom

Summary:
The goal of this pilot randomised controlled trial is to test the feasibility of a brief nature-based self-help psychological intervention for low mental wellbeing. The investigators want to learn whether the intervention is likely to help improve mental wellbeing and whether it is acceptable to participants. Participants will be members of the public in the United Kingdom (UK) with low mental wellbeing and the intervention lasts for four weeks.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Will participants' mental wellbeing improve after the intervention, relative to participants in a waiting list arm.

Will participants find the intervention useful and acceptable to do?

Participants will:

Complete baseline questionnaires on demographic information and on several areas linked to wellbeing.

Complete further questionnaires on wellbeing after 2 weeks and 4 weeks. Complete a questionnaire on their experience of the intervention at 4 weeks. Receive and complete a self-guided booklet and link to a webspace to complete activities that are informed by psychological principles.

Receive the intervention after four weeks if they were allocated to the waiting list arm first.

Primary Outcome Measures: Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS)., The Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) is a 7-item unidimensional self-report measure that captures social, eudaimonic and hedonic dimensions of mental wellbeing. Scores range from 7 to 35 and higher scores indicate higher positive mental wellbeing., T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).
Secondary Outcome Measures: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8)., The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) is an 8-item diagnostic tool and measure used for assessing the severity of depressive symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 24 and higher scores indicate higher severity of depressive symptoms., T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).|Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)., The Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) is a 7-item measure that assesses anxious symptoms during the past 2 weeks. Scores range from 0 to 27 and higher scores indicate higher severity of anxiety symptoms., T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).|Perceived Stress Scale (PSS4)., The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS4) is a four-item scale measuring perceived psychological stress in the last month. Scores range from 0 to 16 and higher scores indicate higher levels of perceived stress., T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).|Ruminative Response Styles (RRS)., The Ruminative Response Styles (RRS) aims to measure ruminative tendency in response to low mood. The short version of the RRS is comprised of ten items, with two subscales for brooding and reflection. The investigators use only the Brooding subscale, consisting of five items, in this pilot. Scores range from 5 to 20 and higher scores indicate higher levels of rumination., T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).|Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ15)., The Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ15) is a 15-item measure that assesses five aspects of mindfulness including observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging and non-reactivity to inner experience. Scores range from 1 to 75 and higher scores indicate higher levels of mindfulness., T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).|Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) is a 10-item scale that measures emotion regulation strategies through Cognitive Reappraisal and Expressive Suppression subscales. Scores range from 1 to 35 on each subscale and higher scores indicate higher habitual use of the respective strategy (reappraisal or suppression)., T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).|Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS)., The Jenkins Sleep Scale (JSS) measures common sleep disturbances symptoms seen in the general population, it contains four items that assess sleep problems over the past month. Scores range from 0 to 20 and higher scores indicate more sleep problems., T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).|The Nature Relatedness Questionnaire (NR6)., The Nature Relatedness Scale (NR6) is a six-item scale measuring the individual's sense of connection with the natural environment. Scores range from 6 to 35 and higher scores indicate stronger connectedness to nature., T0 (baseline), T1 (2 weeks) and T2 (4 weeks).|Acceptability and feasibility questions, Please indicate approximately how many days of the guidebook you completed? The guidebook activities were easy to do. The guidebook was easy to follow. The online activities were easy to do. The online activities were easy to follow. I would like the intervention to be longer than 4 weeks. 4 weeks was about the right length for the intervention. I would like the Intervention to be shorter than 4 weeks. Overall I enjoyed doing the Programme. I would come back and use the guidebook again in the future. The Roots \& Shoots Programme was helpful in improving my wellbeing. I would recommend the Roots \& Shoots Programme to a friend. The information in the guidebook was helpful. The habit wheel was helpful. The habit and mood tracker was helpful. The expressive writing was helpful. The honeycomb challenge was helpful. The coping tool was helpful. I found the nature videos helpful. I found the meditations helpful. I found the breathing exercises helpful., T2 (4 weeks).