Bird Watching to Reduce Stress in University Students

Universidad Industrial de Santander102 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this study is to learn if birdwatching can reduce stress in university students. It will also explore students; experiences with the intervention. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does birdwatching reduce students perceived stress levels? What are the experiences of students who participate in the birdwatching intervention? Why do some students drop out of the study? Researchers will compare a group of students who participate in birdwatching outings to a control group that does not receive the intervention to determine if birdwatching is effective in reducing stress. Participants will: Either participate in birdwatching outings or be in a control group with no intervention Complete a perceived stress scale (PSS-10) to measure their stress levels Take part in semi-structured interviews to discuss their experiences with the intervention or their reasons for dropping out of the study

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

102

Conditions

Stress, Psychologic

Interventions

Description: Participants will attend three birdwatching sessions, where they will enjoy direct contact with nature in selected environments such as forests and farms. These outings will be guided by an expert, who will also introduce participants to the use of binoculars and tools for identifying the birds observed during the excursions. During the outings, participants will learn the body scan technique, which will help them focus on physical sensations without making judgments. This exercise will encourage them to pay attention to details such as muscle tension, temperature, or surface contact, allowing them to be more present and connected to their surroundings during the birdwatching sessions. In addition to the in-person outings, participants will receive digital materials via WhatsApp to complement the intervention.Birdwatching Intervention

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 100 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * University students who meet the following inclusion criteria will be included in the study: being 18 years of age or older, being enrolled in any undergraduate program at the Universidad Industrial de Santander, having a score of 10 or higher on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and having access to WhatsApp. Exclusion Criteria: * University students with a medical diagnosis of any mental illness under pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment, with health conditions that prevent them from seeing, hearing, or moving, as well as students who have engaged in birdwatching in the last six months, will not be included.

Locations (2)

Universidad Industrial de Santander

Bucaramanga, Santander Department, Colombia

Universidad Industrial de Santander

Bucaramanga, Santander Department, Colombia

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Adherence to the intervention

To determine adherence to the intervention, the proportion of students who successfully completed the number of sessions and challenges outlined in the intervention protocol will be calculated, as well as the number of university students who dropped out of the intervention

Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group

The Perceived Stress Scale

Perceived Stress Scale: (PSS-10). This instrument measures the level of perceived stress during the last month. It consists of 10 questions with a five-option Likert-type response format. The score ranges from 0 to 40. A higher score indicates a higher level of perceived stress.

Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group.

Secondary Outcomes

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)

The GAD-7 is used to measure anxiety symptoms. It consists of 7 items, each rated on a scale from 0 to 3, with total scores ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.

Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

The PHQ-9 is a self-report outcome questionnaire used to screen for depressive symptoms. It consists of 9 items. Responses are scored on a scale from 0 to 3, with total scores ranging from 0 to 27. Higher scores indicate more severe depression.

Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

It consists of 19 self-administered questions, rated on a scale from 0 to 3, generating an overall score from 0 to 21. Higher overall scores represent worse subjective sleep quality.

Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group