Questa pagina è stata tradotta automaticamente e l'accuratezza della traduzione non è garantita. Si prega di fare riferimento al Versione inglese per un testo di partenza.

Comparative Effects of Meditation, Nature Exposure, and Digital Activities on Physiological and Perceived Stress

24 giugno 2026 aggiornato da: Teresa Fazia, University of Pavia

Comparative Effects of Meditation, Nature Exposure, Digital Scrolling, and Reading on Physiological and Perceived Stress: A Non-Randomized Controlled Study

The present study aims to compare the effects of meditation, nature exposure, digital scrolling, and reading on physiological and perceived stress. Participants will undergo a baseline assessment including the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), a visual analogue scale (VAS) for anxiety, and salivary cortisol collection at 8:30 a.m, prior to cortisol peak. Participants will then engage in one of four activities: guided meditation, a walk in a forest environment, digital scrolling on a smartphone, or reading a neutral text. Following the activity, salivary cortisol will be collected again and anxiety will be reassessed using the VAS. The study will evaluate changes in cortisol levels, perceived stress and perceived anxiety across the four conditions and explore the potential moderating role of baseline mindfulness traits.

The central research question of this study is whether different experiential conditions elicit distinct psychophysiological responses, as reflected by changes in perceived stressm salivary cortisol and perceived anxiety and therefore this investigation could improve the understanding of how different experiential contexts influence short-term stress regulation.

Panoramica dello studio

Stato

Attivo, non reclutante

Condizioni

Intervento / Trattamento

Descrizione dettagliata

Stress is a global phenomenon. Chronic exposure to stress is associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and impaired cognitive functioning. Consequently, identifying accessible and effective strategies for stress reduction has become a major public health priority. To explore new ways of managing it is of crucial relevance, therefore the effects of meditation, nature exposure, digital scrolling, and neutral reading on physiological and perceived stress will be investigated.

Participants will be allocated to one of 5 intervention groups: (1) guided meditation, (2) guided meditaiton (3) forest walking, (4) smartphone scrolling, or (5) reading a neutral text.

All study procedures will take place in the morning to account for the circadian rhythm of cortisol secretion. At baseline, participants will complete demographic and study-related assessments, including the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) and a VAS measuring current stress and anxiety levels. A baseline saliva sample for cortisol determination will be collected at 8:45 a.m., shortly before the expected morning cortisol peak.

Participants will then engage in their assigned activity. The 2 meditation groups will complete a 20-minute guided meditation session using two different meditation techniques. The forest exposure group will undertake a 20-minute walk in a forest environment. The digital activity group will spend 20 minutes scrolling on a smartphone, while the control group will spend 20 minutes reading a neutral text. The duration of the intervention will be standardized across all groups.

Immediately following completion of the assigned activity, participants will undergo a second assessment at approximately 9:00 a.m. A post-intervention saliva sample will be collected for cortisol analysis, and participants will again complete the VAS for anxiety and stress. Salivary Cortisol and DHEA levels will be evaluated at 4 time points the above already mentioned two, and in the evening and before sleeep.

The primary objective of the study is to compare changes in perceived stress. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in cortisool levels, DHEA, perceived anxiety and exploring the relationship between baseline mindfulness traits, as measured by the FFMQ, and physiological and psychological responses to the interventions.

The study aims to provide preliminary evidence regarding the immediate effects of contemplative practice, exposure to natural environments, and digital engagement on stress-related outcomes in healthy adult participants

Tipo di studio

Interventistico

Iscrizione (Stimato)

100

Fase

  • Non applicabile

Contatti e Sedi

Questa sezione fornisce i recapiti di coloro che conducono lo studio e informazioni su dove viene condotto lo studio.

Luoghi di studio

  • Italia
    • Italia
      • Pavia, Italia, Italia, 27100
        • Cascina Cravino Via Bassi 21

Criteri di partecipazione

I ricercatori cercano persone che corrispondano a una certa descrizione, chiamata criteri di ammissibilità. Alcuni esempi di questi criteri sono le condizioni generali di salute di una persona o trattamenti precedenti.

Criteri di ammissibilità

Età idonea allo studio

  • Adulto
  • Adulto più anziano

Accetta volontari sani

Sì

Descrizione

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Understanding of the Italian language

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of severe mental disorders and/or significant medical conditions
  • Endocrine or metabolic disorders
  • Substance dependence

Piano di studio

Questa sezione fornisce i dettagli del piano di studio, compreso il modo in cui lo studio è progettato e ciò che lo studio sta misurando.

Come è strutturato lo studio?

Dettagli di progettazione

  • Scopo principale: Trattamento
  • Assegnazione: Non randomizzato
  • Modello interventistico: Assegnazione parallela
  • Mascheramento: Separare

Armi e interventi

Gruppo di partecipanti / Arm
Intervento / Trattamento
Sperimentale: Experimental
Participants in this groups will undergo a mindfulness based intervention. The meditation tecniques will differ one from the other for focused breathing, body relaxation, emotional awareness and acceptance exercises. The intervention consists of 1 in person session of 20 minutes.
Comportamentale: Mindfulness-based intervention
The intervention consists of 1 in person session of mindfulness of 20 minutes.
Nessun intervento: No Intervention
Participants in this group will not receive any psychophysiological interventions during the study. This group serve as a passiva control group to evaluate the effectivness of the mindfulness-based intervention by comparing pre and post intervention measures.
Comparatore attivo: Forest bathing
The forest bathing group will act as a an active control group. Forest bathing is known to exert psyhophysiological effects on the stress response system, allowing to evaluate different stress management techniques
Comportamentale: Forest bathing
Participants engaged in guided forest immersion including mindful walking, sensory awareness, meditation, and nature-based contemplative activities.The intervention consists of 1 in person session of 20 minutes.
Comparatore attivo: Scrolling
Scrolling group will act as an active control group to evaluate the absence of the positive psychophysiological stress response. The intervention consists of 1 in person session of 20 minutes.
Comportamentale: Scrolling
Strolling consisted of a slow, relaxed walk in a natural environment without specific mindfulness or sensory-awareness instructions.

Cosa sta misurando lo studio?

Misure di risultato primarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change in perceived stress.
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
Change in perceived stress measured using a Visual Analog Scale for Stress (VAS-Stress), ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates no perceived stress and 100 indicates the highest level of perceived stress imaginable. The outcome will be calculated as the difference between post-intervention and pre-intervention scores. Negative values indicate a reduction in perceived stress following the intervention.
Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).

Misure di risultato secondarie

Misura del risultato
Misura Descrizione
Lasso di tempo
Change in anxiety levels
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
Change in anxiety levels measured using a Visual Analog Scale for Anxiety (VAS-Anxiety), ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates no anxiety and 100 indicates the highest level of anxiety imaginable. The outcome will be calculated as the difference between post-intervention and pre-intervention scores. Negative values indicate a reduction in anxiety following the intervention.
Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
Change in salivary cortisol concentrations
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
Change in salivary cortisol concentration (nmol/L) measured from saliva samples collected immediately before and immediately after the intervention session. The outcome will be calculated as the difference between post-intervention and pre-intervention cortisol concentrations
Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
Change in salivary DHEA concentrations
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
Change in salivary dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentration (pg/mL) measured from saliva samples collected immediately before and immediately after the intervention session. The outcome will be calculated as the difference between post-intervention and pre-intervention DHEA concentrations
Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
Correlation between trait mindfulness and physiological stress responses
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
Correlation between trait mindfulness (measured by Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire total score) and change in salivary cortisol concentration
Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
- Correlations among psychological and biological outcome measures, including VAS-Stress, VAS-Anxiety, cortisol, and DHEA
Lasso di tempo: Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).
Baseline and immediately after the single intervention session (same day).

Collaboratori e investigatori

Qui è dove troverai le persone e le organizzazioni coinvolte in questo studio.

Sponsor

University of Pavia

Collaboratori

University of Padova

Studiare le date dei record

Queste date tengono traccia dell'avanzamento della registrazione dello studio e dell'invio dei risultati di sintesi a ClinicalTrials.gov. I record degli studi e i risultati riportati vengono esaminati dalla National Library of Medicine (NLM) per assicurarsi che soddisfino specifici standard di controllo della qualità prima di essere pubblicati sul sito Web pubblico.

Studia le date principali

Inizio studio (Effettivo)

5 novembre 2025

Completamento primario (Stimato)

30 giugno 2026

Completamento dello studio (Stimato)

1 luglio 2026

Date di iscrizione allo studio

Primo inviato

18 giugno 2026

Primo inviato che soddisfa i criteri di controllo qualità

24 giugno 2026

Primo Inserito (Effettivo)

29 giugno 2026

Aggiornamenti dei record di studio

Ultimo aggiornamento pubblicato (Effettivo)

29 giugno 2026

Ultimo aggiornamento inviato che soddisfa i criteri QC

24 giugno 2026

Ultimo verificato

1 giugno 2026

Maggiori informazioni

Termini relativi a questo studio

Parole chiave

Termini MeSH pertinenti aggiuntivi

Altri numeri di identificazione dello studio

  • Lum_1

Piano per i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)

Hai intenzione di condividere i dati dei singoli partecipanti (IPD)?

INDECISO

Informazioni su farmaci e dispositivi, documenti di studio

Studia un prodotto farmaceutico regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Studia un dispositivo regolamentato dalla FDA degli Stati Uniti

No

Queste informazioni sono state recuperate direttamente dal sito web clinicaltrials.gov senza alcuna modifica. In caso di richieste di modifica, rimozione o aggiornamento dei dettagli dello studio, contattare register@clinicaltrials.gov. Non appena verrà implementata una modifica su clinicaltrials.gov, questa verrà aggiornata automaticamente anche sul nostro sito web .

Prove cliniche su Mindfulness-based intervention

Cerca prove simili

Sponsor e collaboratori

Condizioni mediche

Interventi farmacologici

CROs by country

CROs in Burundi

Condizioni

Malattie rare

Interventi farmacologici

Supplementi dietetici

Sponsor / Collaboratori

Sedi

3
Sottoscrivi