The study aimed to explore therapeutic effects of natural environments. To do so, the investigators evaluated the immediate and sustained changes in several indicators of well-being while people (n=26) with poor mental health were engaged in unconstrained exposures to natural (green, blue) and urban environments. The indicators included: affection, cognition, physiological responses. Each participant was exposed to all environments for a period of 210 minutes between October 2013 and January 2014. During the exposure period, participants were instructed to do what they would usually do in that environment. Before, during (at 30 and 210 minutes) and after each exposure, several psycho-physiological measures were taken: (i) heart rate variability and heart rate using a Holter monitor, (ii) blood pressure using a digital blood pressure monitor, (iii) physical activity using the CalFIT application installed in a Smartphone, (iv) lung function using a portable computerized spirometer, (v) stress level using salivary cortisol samples collected using Salivettes, (vi) affect, perceived restoration and social interactions using questionnaires, (vii) cognitive functioning using the backwards digit-span task test.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
26
Participants were transported one day to a urban setting, one day to a green space, one day to a beach. No intervention was done.
Change from Baseline heart rate variability at 30 min
Time frame: after 30 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from Baseline heart rate at 30 min
Time frame: after 30 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from blood pressure at 30min
Time frame: after 30 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from stress level at 30min (salivary cortisol)
Time frame: after 30 of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from affect at 30 min (BRUMS/POMS)
Time frame: after 30 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from cognitive functioning at 30 min (backward digit span task)
Time frame: after 30 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from Baseline heart rate variability at 210 min
Time frame: after 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from Baseline heart rate at 210 min
Time frame: after 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from blood pressure at 210min
Time frame: after 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from stress level at 210min (salivary cortisol)
Time frame: after 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from affect at 210 min (BRUMS/POMS)
Time frame: after 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
Change from cognitive functioning at 210 min (backward digit span task)
Time frame: after 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
objectively measured physical activity 30
Measured with a Smartphone application (CalFIT)
Time frame: During the first 30 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
perceived restoration 30 (ROS - Korpela's Restoration outcome scale)
Time frame: after 30 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
subjectively recorded social interactions 30
Measurement tool developed by the research team
Time frame: after 30 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
ambient air pollution exposure 30 (PM2.5)
Measured with MicroAthelometer
Time frame: During the first 30 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
objectively measured physical activity 210
Measured with a Smartphone application (CalFIT)
Time frame: During the first 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
perceived restoration 210 (ROS- Korpela's Restoration outcome scale)
Time frame: after 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
subjectively recorded social interactions 210
Measurement tool developed by the research team
Time frame: after 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
ambient air pollution exposure 210 (PM2.5)
Measured with MicroAthelometer
Time frame: During the first 210 minutes of exposure to green/blue/urban environment
personal air pollution (CO, NO, NO2)
Personal sensors designed and built at Cambridge University, UK (CamPerS)
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Time frame: During all the data collection day