Well-Being, PsychologicalAWNNCT06548243
Act With Nature: Promoting Planetary Well-being
A study testing Act with Nature Programme in people with Well-Being, Psychological, run by JAMK University Of Applied Sciences at 2 sites in Finland.
Trial summary
The research investigates the effects of nature-based programme (Act with Nature; AWN) in promoting psychological well-being and pro-environmental behaviour among working age participants in Finland. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 74 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Well-Being, Psychological
- What is being tested?
- Act with Nature Programme
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 158 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesFinland
- Study dates
- 31 Jan 2024to Sep 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 74 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Working age adults
- Able to communicate adequately in Finnish in order to participate
- Willingness to commit to a 12-week intervention programme
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
Finland2 sites
Institute of Rehabilitation, JAMK University of Applied Sciences
Jyväskylä, 40100
Tampere University
Tampere, 33100
About this study
Official title: Act With Nature (AWN): Promoting Well-being and Pro-environmental Behaviour Among Working-age Adults During the Era of Environmental Crises
The research investigates the effects of nature-based programme (Act with Nature; AWN) in promoting psychological well-being and pro-environmental behaviour among working age participants in Finland. Our research deepens understanding of how coping with environment-related emotions and nature connectedness are connected to human wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour. The psychological wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour are investigated with self-report measures and analysed with quantitative and qualitative methods. The project will provide a new programme (AWN) for combining individual well-being and behaviour change. The results can provide a theoretical framework and working model for health professionals to intervene and support people in adapting to environmental crises and coping with stress.
Read the detailed description
An intervention study with a randomised control trial design will be conducted among a sample of 158 working age participants in various locations in Finland. After receiving information about the research and signing the study consent, participants are randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The participants in the intervention group will be offered a 12-week, nature-based, Act with Nature (AWN) programme. The programme will be carried out online with individual coaching and independent tasks for each week. Participants share experiences during workshops that are facilitated in nature environment, either in-person or online.
Throughout the AWN programme, nature-based exercises are facilitated in which participants are encouraged to recognise the significance of physical environment and social support in coping with environment-related emotions, nature connectedness and wellbeing. AWN programme is facilitated by a trained health care professional.
The AWN has three separate stages (4 weeks each): Stage 1: nature connectedness, environmental self-regulation and confidence in the group; Stage 2: environmental-related emotions, psychological flexibility and coping strategies; Stage 3: experimenting with change alternatives and affirming positive change in environmental behaviour.
Participants respond to online surveys at five measurement points: a pre-measurement at the start of the programme, two measurements during the programme (at 4 and 8 weeks of the programme), a post-measurement at the end of the programme, and a follow-up measurement three months after the end of the programme. The participants in the intervention group (nature-based AWN programme) are compared to the participants in the control group who continue life as usual and only respond to online surveys at three measurement points (pre-, post- and follow-up measurements). Coping with environment-related emotions, comprehensive nature experience, nature connectedness, environmental emotions and personal environmental goals are investigated as mediators to explain changes in well-being and pro-environmental behaviour.
This research is funded by the Research Council of Finland (Project Numbers: 350971 and 350964).
- Conditions
- Well-Being, Psychological
- Being tested
- Act with Nature Programme
- Keywords
- Pro-environmental behaviour, Nature-based programme, Nature connectedness, Environmental emotions
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Act with Nature ProgrammeBehavioural
The participants in the intervention group are offered a 12-week nature-based programme, which includes independent exercises and information on an online learning environment, as well as online or in-person group meetings.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Act with Nature Programme | Experimental | A nature-based programme to promote well-being and pro-environmental behaviour. The programme is facilitated by a trained health care professional. Receives: Behavioral: Act with Nature Programme |
| Control group | No intervention | The participants in the control group continue life as usual. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Emotional wellbeing
Health related quality of life (RAND): emotional wellbeing dimension, the scores range from 1 to 6 and some items are recoded. Higher total score refers to better emotional wellbeing.
Measured: 6 months
Mental wellbeing
Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS), the scores range from 1 to 5, a higher scores refers to better mental wellbeing.
Measured: 6 months
Pro-environmental behaviour
Self-report scale of the frequency of pro-environmental actions. Items refering to pro-environmental actions during one month are responded on a scale ranging from 1 to 5. Items refering to pro-environmental actions during the past year are responded on a scale 1 (yes) and 2 (no). Some items are recoded and all items include an option for "doesn't apply to me". A higher total score refers to more self-reported pro-environmental behaviour.
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Behavioural Willingness
Willingness to act pro-environmentally, the scores range from 1 to 4. A higher score refers to more willingness to act pro-environmentally.
Measured: 6 months
Affect regulation
Measure of Affect Regulation Styles (MARS), the scores range from 1 to 6 and all items include an option for "doesn't apply to me". A higher score refers to a higher efficiency in affect regulation styles.
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Aug 2024
- Study start31 Jan 2024
- Primary completionSep 2025 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Well-Being, PsychologicalStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- JAMK University Of Applied Sciences
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Tampere University, University of Surrey
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Katriina Hyvonen, JAMK University Of Applied Sciences
- Investigators
- Katriina Hyvönen, PhD, Principal investigator, JAMK University Of Applied Sciences
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06548243
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- JAMKUAS_AWN
- Acronym
- AWN
- Status last verified
- Aug 2024
- First submitted
- 7 Aug 2024
- Last updated
- 1 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data from surveys will be anonymised after the research and will be archived to the research data storage service (IDA). Anonymised data will open for reuse after the research finishes in 2026. The reuse of interview data will be restricted to suitable parts.
Publications
Korpela, K., Hyvönen, K., Ratcliffe, E., Salonen, K., & Paakkolanvaara, J.-V. (2023, Jan 30). Act with Nature (AWN): Promoting well-being and pro-environmental behaviour among working-age adults during the era of environmental crises. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/69QVW
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 1 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Act With Nature (AWN): Promoting Well-being and Pro-environmental Behaviour Among Working-age Adults During the Era of Environmental Crises
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06548243
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AWN / JAMKUAS_AWN
- Conditions
- Well-Being, Psychological
- Keywords
- Pro-environmental behaviour, Nature-based programme, Nature connectedness, Environmental emotions
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 158 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- JAMK University Of Applied SciencesUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Tampere University, University of Surrey
- Study start
- 31 Jan 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Aug 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The research investigates the effects of nature-based programme (Act with Nature; AWN) in promoting psychological well-being and pro-environmental behaviour among working age participants in Finland. Our research deepens understanding of how coping with environment-related emotions and nature connectedness are connected to human wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour. The psychological wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour are investigated with self-report measures and analysed with quantitative and qualitative methods. The project will provide a new programme (AWN) for combining individual well-being and behaviour change. The results can provide a theoretical framework and working model for health professionals to intervene and support people in adapting to environmental crises and coping with stress.
Detailed description
An intervention study with a randomised control trial design will be conducted among a sample of 158 working age participants in various locations in Finland. After receiving information about the research and signing the study consent, participants are randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The participants in the intervention group will be offered a 12-week, nature-based, Act with Nature (AWN) programme. The programme will be carried out online with individual coaching and independent tasks for each week. Participants share experiences during workshops that are facilitated in nature environment, either in-person or online.
Throughout the AWN programme, nature-based exercises are facilitated in which participants are encouraged to recognise the significance of physical environment and social support in coping with environment-related emotions, nature connectedness and wellbeing. AWN programme is facilitated by a trained health care professional.
The AWN has three separate stages (4 weeks each): Stage 1: nature connectedness, environmental self-regulation and confidence in the group; Stage 2: environmental-related emotions, psychological flexibility and coping strategies; Stage 3: experimenting with change alternatives and affirming positive change in environmental behaviour.
Participants respond to online surveys at five measurement points: a pre-measurement at the start of the programme, two measurements during the programme (at 4 and 8 weeks of the programme), a post-measurement at the end of the programme, and a follow-up measurement three months after the end of the programme. The participants in the intervention group (nature-based AWN programme) are compared to the participants in the control group who continue life as usual and only respond to online surveys at three measurement points (pre-, post- and follow-up measurements). Coping with environment-related emotions, comprehensive nature experience, nature connectedness, environmental emotions and personal environmental goals are investigated as mediators to explain changes in well-being and pro-environmental behaviour.
This research is funded by the Research Council of Finland (Project Numbers: 350971 and 350964).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Act with Nature Programme | Experimental | Behavioral: Act with Nature ProgrammeA nature-based programme to promote well-being and pro-environmental behaviour. The programme is facilitated by a trained health care professional. |
| Control group | No intervention | –The participants in the control group continue life as usual. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 74 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Working age adults
- Able to communicate adequately in Finnish in order to participate
- Willingness to commit to a 12-week intervention programme
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Act with Nature ProgrammeThe participants in the intervention group are offered a 12-week nature-based programme, which includes independent exercises and information on an online learning environment, as well as online or in-person group meetings. | Behavioural | Act with Nature Programme |
Primary outcome
Emotional wellbeing
Time frame: 6 months
Health related quality of life (RAND): emotional wellbeing dimension, the scores range from 1 to 6 and some items are recoded. Higher total score refers to better emotional wellbeing.
Mental wellbeing
Time frame: 6 months
Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS), the scores range from 1 to 5, a higher scores refers to better mental wellbeing.
Pro-environmental behaviour
Time frame: 6 months
Self-report scale of the frequency of pro-environmental actions. Items refering to pro-environmental actions during one month are responded on a scale ranging from 1 to 5. Items refering to pro-environmental actions during the past year are responded on a scale 1 (yes) and 2 (no). Some items are recoded and all items include an option for "doesn't apply to me". A higher total score refers to more self-reported pro-environmental behaviour.
2 secondary outcomes
Behavioural Willingness
Time frame: 6 months
Affect regulation
Time frame: 6 months
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 1 Apr 2025.
- BackgroundKorpela, K., Hyvönen, K., Ratcliffe, E., Salonen, K., & Paakkolanvaara, J.-V. (2023, Jan 30). Act with Nature (AWN): Promoting well-being and pro-environmental behaviour among working-age adults during the era of environmental crises. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/69QVW
- Project websiteLink provided by the sponsor.
- Project websiteLink provided by the sponsor.
- OSF Preregistration of the researchLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Data from surveys will be anonymised after the research and will be archived to the research data storage service (IDA). Anonymised data will open for reuse after the research finishes in 2026. The reuse of interview data will be restricted to suitable parts.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Katriina Hyvönen, PhD principal investigator
JAMK University Of Applied Sciences
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Act with Nature Programme in people with Well-Being, Psychological, run by JAMK University Of Applied Sciences at 2 sites in Finland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Finland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Emotional wellbeing (time frame: 6 months). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06548243, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Apr 2025.