Title: Short and midterm benefits of nature contact for well¬being
Question: What are the benefits of walking in nature versus in urban settings to reduce stress and improve depression-related symptoms?
Strategy: Depressed and healthy individuals will be randomly assigned to either nature and/or urban condition. The trial included 2 primary outcomes: patients stress levels (salivary cortisol) and depression-related symptoms (eg, affect, rumination, executive functioning).
Impact: Physical activity is currently used as a supplemental treatment for depression. This trial will clarify whether exercising in natural environment has greater impacts on stress and well-being than in an urban setting.
Clinical Study Identifier: NCT03996785
Funded by
the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Insight Development Grant
Principal Investigator:
Marie-Claude Geoffroy
Co-Investigators:
Frédérick Philippe
Isabelle Ouellet-Morin
Collaborator:
Stéphane Richard Devantoy
Ph.D. Student:
Despina Bolanis
Staff:
Samantha Bouchard
Despina Bolanis
Sara Scardera