Depression and Anxiety SymptomNCT07399457
A Nature-based Physical Activity Therapy Group for College Students
A study testing Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapy in people with Depression and Anxiety Symptom, run by Kansas State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a nature-based physical activity group delivered by K-State Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for students experiencing depression and anxiety. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Depression and Anxiety Symptom
- What is being tested?
- Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 6 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2025to 30 Jun 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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Attends an intake session at CAPS
- Passes the pre-group screening (therapist and client agree that group is a good fit for student's needs)
Who cannot join
- Medical condition that prevents safe participation in physical activity (assessed via ACSM risk screener)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Development of a Nature-based Physical Activity Toolkit for University Counseling Centers
This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a nature-based physical activity group delivered by K-State Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for students experiencing depression and anxiety.
Read the detailed description
For this study, our research team partnered with two CAPS therapists to develop a new therapy group called Moving Naturally Through Challenges, which focused on nature-based physical activity as a tool for managing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Prior to group implementation, the researchers and therapists collaborated to develop a detailed implementation handbook with weekly lesson plans for the eight group therapy sessions. Next, we conducted a 2-hour training workshop with all CAPS staff to familiarize them with the content and empower them to refer students to the group.
This intervention was delivered as part of group therapy services offered by CAPS. Students seeking services at CAPS whose primary presenting concerns were depression and/or anxiety were encouraged to consider joining the Moving Naturally group. Interested students attended a 30-minute pre-group screening meeting with the group facilitators to ensure it was a good fit for their needs, and then signed a consent form to formalize their enrollment in the study.
The therapy group ran during the spring semester for 8 weeks. Each session lasted 1.5 hours, and included a weekly discussion topic, applied activities for students (e.g., goal setting and planning), and 30 minutes of nature-based physical activity. Activities included walking, hiking, yoga, outdoor games, resistance training, and sport-based activities that were moderate in intensity. Each participant received a Fitbit, yoga mat, resistance band, and water bottle to bring to each session. The group facilitators received training in group fitness instruction prior to leading the group sessions.
To assess changes in mental health outcomes, all students completed the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms upon intake at CAPS, and again upon completion of the therapy group. In addition, students rated their enjoyment of each group therapy session using the Group Session Rating Scale. Participants were asked to wear their Fitbit 24/7 (except when charging) throughout the 8-week duration of the study, and our research team is able to access their data using the Fitabase platform. Additional data and feedback were collected from the therapists who attended the training and facilitated the group.
- Conditions
- Depression and Anxiety Symptom
- Being tested
- Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapy
- Keywords
- anxiety, college students, physical activity, nature, group therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapyBehavioural
Also called nature-based physical activity therapy group
The intervention included 8 weeks of group therapy. Each session was 90 minutes and incorporated 30 minutes of nature-based physical activity and 60 minutes of traditional group therapy with content focused on managing anxiety.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | Received the Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapy intervention Receives: Behavioral: Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Attendance
The percentage of total group therapy sessions participants attended
Measured: Weekly across the 8-week intervention
Group enjoyment and satisfaction
Assessed using the Group Session Rating Scale. Each of the 6 items is rated on a scale from 0-10, with higher scores indicating higher group enjoyment and satisfaction with group relationships, topics, approach, activity, skills, and overall.
Measured: Weekly across the 8-week therapy group
Secondary outcomes (1)
Depression and anxiety
Measured via the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (CCAPS). The depression, general anxiety, and social anxiety subscales are scored on a scale from 0-100, with higher scores indicating greater depression and anxiety.
Measured: Baseline and week 8
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Feb 2025
- Primary completion30 Jun 2025
- Study completion30 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Depression and Anxiety SymptomStudies 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 6 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kansas State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Frontiers Clinical & Translational Science Institute
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Emily Mailey, Kansas State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07399457
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB-12065
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Data is private health information.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Development of a Nature-based Physical Activity Toolkit for University Counseling Centers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07399457
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB-12065
- Conditions
- Depression and Anxiety Symptom
- Keywords
- anxiety, college students, physical activity, nature, group therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 6 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Kansas State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Frontiers Clinical & Translational Science Institute
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Feb 2026 (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.
This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a nature-based physical activity group delivered by K-State Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for students experiencing depression and anxiety.
Detailed description
For this study, our research team partnered with two CAPS therapists to develop a new therapy group called Moving Naturally Through Challenges, which focused on nature-based physical activity as a tool for managing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Prior to group implementation, the researchers and therapists collaborated to develop a detailed implementation handbook with weekly lesson plans for the eight group therapy sessions. Next, we conducted a 2-hour training workshop with all CAPS staff to familiarize them with the content and empower them to refer students to the group.
This intervention was delivered as part of group therapy services offered by CAPS. Students seeking services at CAPS whose primary presenting concerns were depression and/or anxiety were encouraged to consider joining the Moving Naturally group. Interested students attended a 30-minute pre-group screening meeting with the group facilitators to ensure it was a good fit for their needs, and then signed a consent form to formalize their enrollment in the study.
The therapy group ran during the spring semester for 8 weeks. Each session lasted 1.5 hours, and included a weekly discussion topic, applied activities for students (e.g., goal setting and planning), and 30 minutes of nature-based physical activity. Activities included walking, hiking, yoga, outdoor games, resistance training, and sport-based activities that were moderate in intensity. Each participant received a Fitbit, yoga mat, resistance band, and water bottle to bring to each session. The group facilitators received training in group fitness instruction prior to leading the group sessions.
To assess changes in mental health outcomes, all students completed the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms upon intake at CAPS, and again upon completion of the therapy group. In addition, students rated their enjoyment of each group therapy session using the Group Session Rating Scale. Participants were asked to wear their Fitbit 24/7 (except when charging) throughout the 8-week duration of the study, and our research team is able to access their data using the Fitabase platform. Additional data and feedback were collected from the therapists who attended the training and facilitated the group.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapyReceived the Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapy intervention |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Attends an intake session at CAPS
- Passes the pre-group screening (therapist and client agree that group is a good fit for student's needs)
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Medical condition that prevents safe participation in physical activity (assessed via ACSM risk screener)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapyAlso: nature-based physical activity therapy groupThe intervention included 8 weeks of group therapy. Each session was 90 minutes and incorporated 30 minutes of nature-based physical activity and 60 minutes of traditional group therapy with content focused on managing anxiety. | Behavioural | Intervention |
Primary outcome
Attendance
Time frame: Weekly across the 8-week intervention
The percentage of total group therapy sessions participants attended
Group enjoyment and satisfaction
Time frame: Weekly across the 8-week therapy group
Assessed using the Group Session Rating Scale. Each of the 6 items is rated on a scale from 0-10, with higher scores indicating higher group enjoyment and satisfaction with group relationships, topics, approach, activity, skills, and overall.
1 secondary outcome
Depression and anxiety
Time frame: Baseline and week 8
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Data is private health information.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Moving Naturally Through Challenges group therapy in people with Depression and Anxiety Symptom, run by Kansas State University at 1 site in United States.
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 2 inclusion and 1 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Attendance (time frame: Weekly across the 8-week intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 10 Feb 2026.