Effectiveness of a mindful nature walking intervention on sleep quality and mood in university students during Covid-19: A randomised control study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether outdoor mindful walking in nature could improve university students' sleep quality, mood, and mindfulness during the Covid-19 pandemic in the U.K.
Results Summary
Both mindful walking in nature and walking in an urban environment significantly improved participants' trait mindfulness, sleep quality, and mood, but mindful walking in nature did not provide additional mental health benefits compared to urban walking.
Population
University students in the U.K. during the Covid-19 pandemic
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
outdoor mindful walking in nature | increase | university students' sleep quality, mood, and mindfulness | university students during the Covid-19 pandemic in the U.K. | - | effectively improve | #1 |
outdoor mindful walking in nature | increase | participants' trait mindfulness, sleep quality and mood | participants | - | resulted in significant improvements | #2 |
mindful walking in nature | no change | mental health benefits | participants | - | did not bring additional mental health benefits | #3 |
mindful walking outdoors | decrease | university students' mood disturbances | university students | - | reduces | #4 |
mindful walking outdoors | increase | sleep quality and mindfulness level | university students | - | improves | #5 |
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this project was to conduct a randomised control study to examine whether outdoor mindful walking in nature can effectively improve university students' sleep quality, mood, and mindfulness during the Covid-19 pandemic in the U.K. METHODS: Participants were measured at T RESULTS: Findings suggest that both groups resulted in significant improvements in participants' trait mindfulness, sleep quality and mood after the intervention. However, mindful walking in nature did not bring additional mental health benefits to participants relative to those who walked an urban environment. Participants provided their perspectives about the intervention, which will assist with future intervention development. CONCLUSIONS: Findings contribute to the evidence-base on the effectiveness of outdoor mindful walking interventions for enhancing mental health. These findings contribute new knowledge on how mindful walking outdoors reduces university students' mood disturbances and improves sleep quality and mindfulness level.