Active Plant Engagement for Anxiety

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Colorado State University

Disqualifiers: Other intervention studies, Severe plant allergies

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 16 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether caring for plants can reduce stress and improve study habits in college students. Participants will be divided into groups: some will care for plants on campus, others at home, while a comparison group will not engage with plants. The goal is to determine if actively looking after plants boosts academic motivation and mood. This trial may suit college students who are not already tending to plants and can commit to a 16-week study. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity for students to explore new ways to enhance their well-being and academic performance.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on plant engagement, so it's unlikely that your medications would be affected, but you should check with the trial organizers to be sure.

What prior data suggests that active plant engagement is safe for improving mental health and academic performance?

Research shows that spending time with plants is safe and beneficial. Studies on horticultural therapy, which involves taking care of plants, suggest it can boost mental health without harm. Specifically, studies on plant-related activities for anxiety and depression found no major negative effects.

One study found that spending 100 to 500 minutes on plant care activities helps manage stress. This indicates that being around plants can be a positive experience without causing problems.

Overall, these findings suggest that being with plants and taking care of them is well-received. It can help with stress and mood without adding risk. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Active Plant Engagement for anxiety because this approach is all about hands-on interaction with plants, which is pretty different from typical treatments like medication and therapy. Unlike standard treatments that often revolve around pharmaceuticals or talk therapy, this method involves actively caring for plants, either in shared spaces like classrooms or at home. This unique approach taps into the calming effects of nature and personal responsibility, providing a potentially therapeutic experience without the need for medication. By engaging directly with plants, participants may experience reduced anxiety through increased mindfulness and connection to their environment. This trial could uncover a natural, accessible, and medication-free option for managing anxiety.

What evidence suggests that active plant engagement could be effective for improving mental health and academic performance in college students?

Research shows that spending time with plants can reduce anxiety and improve mood. Activities like gardening, known as Social and Therapeutic Horticulture, have lessened symptoms of depression and anxiety. Studies reveal that people who care for plants feel less stressed, as measured by a stress survey. Spending 100 to 500 minutes on gardening activities links to better stress management. While some reviews suggest positive effects on mood, there aren't enough studies yet for firm conclusions. Overall, early findings support the idea that interacting with plants benefits mental health. This trial will compare different approaches to plant engagement: one group will actively care for plants in shared academic spaces, another will care for plants in personal living spaces, and a comparison group will not engage in plant care. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for college students who may be dealing with issues like low motivation, poor study habits, depression, sleep problems, stress or anxiety. Participants should be interested in actively engaging with plant care.

Inclusion Criteria

Enrolled in in-person HES courses during the study semester

Not currently growing/caring for plants

Willing to comply with assigned intervention

Exclusion Criteria

Current enrollment in other intervention studies targeting mental health/academic performance

Severe plant allergies (e.g. to pollen, mold) regardless of the use of non-toxic and non-pollen plants

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in active plant care either on campus or at home, and complete surveys to assess mental health and academic performance

16 weeks

4 surveys (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in stress, mood, sleep quality, anxiety, mood disturbance, academic performance, and connectedness to nature

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Active Plant Engagement

Trial Overview The study is testing if taking care of plants can help improve mental health and academic performance. It compares two groups (one caring for plants on campus and one at home) against a control group without active plant engagement.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: G3 (Home Plant Care) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Active care for 1-2 plants in personal living spaces (dorm/apartment)

Group II: G2 (Campus Plant Care) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Active care for 1-2 plants in shared academic spaces (e.g. classrooms, hallways)

Group III: G1 (Comparison) Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Colorado State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

138

Recruited

38,200+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11799672/

Effectiveness of social and therapeutic horticulture for ... Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) is a nature-based health intervention that can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07228013?aggFilters=status%3A%2Cphase%3A

Examining Effects of Active Plant Engagement on College ... A significant reduction in Perceived Stress Scale scores would demonstrate a therapeutic effect of the intervention. Scores range from 0-40.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264275125008571

A systematic review of horticultural therapy and urban ... The number of studies examining this outcome was too low to draw any definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of HT interventions to improve anxiety.

4. besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pan3.10764

The potential of gardening and other plant‐related ... This review largely supported the idea that horticultural interventions coupled with usual care can reduce adults' depressive symptoms more than ...

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/21/2104

Efficacy of Horticultural Therapy on Positive, Negative, and ... Recent studies have indicated that 100 to 500 min of horticultural activities are most effective for stress management across various ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11545822/

Efficacy of Horticultural Therapy on Positive, Negative, and ... Recent studies have indicated that 100 to 500 min of horticultural activities are most effective for stress management across various ...

7. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-024-63889-w

A process evaluation of a randomized-controlled trial ... The CAPS trial collected data from 2017 through 2020 and examined whether community garden participation improved diet, physical activity, and ...