Psychological DistressNCT07803367
Nature Photography for Mental Well-Being and Nature Connectedness in Young Adults
A study testing Nature-Based Mindful Photography, Human-Made Object Photography and Self-Guided Digital Stress Management Handbook in people with Psychological Distress and Depressive Symptoms, run by Beijing Normal University.
Trial summary
This study tests whether a nature photography intervention can improve mental well-being and nature connectedness in young adults with mild emotional distress, and examines self-compassion as a key mechanism in this process. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Psychological Distress, Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety Symptoms
- What is being tested?
- Nature-Based Mindful Photography, Human-Made Object Photography and Self-Guided Digital Stress Management Handbook
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 300 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2026to 30 Apr 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
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 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- PHQ-9 score ≥ 5 or GAD-7 score ≥ 5 (presence of mild or greater emotional distress).
Who cannot join
- PHQ-9 score ≥20 or GAD-7 score ≥15 (severe depressive or anxiety symptoms).
- Currently receiving psychological counseling or psychiatric treatment.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Nature Photography for Mental Well-Being and Nature Connectedness in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study tests whether a nature photography intervention can improve mental well-being and nature connectedness in young adults with mild emotional distress, and examines self-compassion as a key mechanism in this process. Participants are randomized to a nature photography group, a human-made object photography group , or a group receiving a stress management handbook. Eight photography tasks are delivered through a mobile platform. Outcomes are assessed at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up.
Read the detailed description
This is a three-arm randomized controlled trial examining whether nature-based photography improves mental well-being and nature connectedness among young adults with mild emotional distress. Participants are randomized to a nature photography intervention, an active control completing human-made object photography, or a control group receiving a stress management handbook. The intervention runs for 16 days and comprises eight structured photography sessions. The primary outcomes are depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms at post-intervention. Secondary outcomes include nature connectedness, self-compassion, positive and negative affect, meaning in life, and life satisfaction, assessed at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up. Changes in self-compassion, mindfulness, and nature connectedness are examined as hypothesized mechanisms of the intervention effect.
- Being tested
- Nature-Based Mindful Photography, Human-Made Object Photography, Self-Guided Digital Stress Management Handbook
- Keywords
- Nature-Based Photography Intervention, Nature Connectedness, Mental Well-Being, Self-Compassion, Young Adults, Randomized Controlled Trial
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Psychological Well-Being
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Nature-Based Mindful PhotographyBehavioural
Photography Participants complete an 8-session, 16-day nature-based photography intervention delivered through a WeChat mini-program (one session every two days). Each session includes a guided photography theme focused on natural elements, mindfulness and self-compassion prompts, and expressive writing, followed by optional peer support (viewing, liking, and commenting on group members' photographs) and personalized AI-assisted supportive feedback at the end of the session. The intervention is designed to improve mental well-being and strengthen nature connectedness through structured engagement with natural environments.
Human-Made Object PhotographyBehavioural
Participants complete an 8-session, 16-day photography intervention delivered through a WeChat mini-program, matched to the intervention group on schedule and task structure, but photographing everyday human-made objects (e.g., study tools, architectural details, furniture). Each session includes expressive writing; no nature-focused prompts, peer interaction, or AI-assisted feedback are provided. This condition controls for photography behavior, app engagement, and task contact without the nature exposure or self-compassion components.
Self-Guided Digital Stress Management HandbookBehavioural
Participants receive a self-guided digital stress management handbook over the 16-day intervention period, covering five structured modules: recognition of physical and emotional stress signals; structured energy and time management (goal decomposition, pomodoro technique, priority matrix); establishing healthy lifestyle routines (sleep hygiene, regular exercise, balanced diet); building interpersonal support networks; and accessing professional help and campus mental health resources. Participants read the handbook at their own pace without photography tasks or interactive components. This condition serves as an active comparator controlling for contact time and expectancy while excluding nature exposure and mindfulness-based self-compassion components.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Nature-Based Photography Intervention | Experimental | Nature-Based Photography Receives: Behavioral: Nature-Based Mindful Photography |
| Human-Made Object Photography Intervention | Experimental | Human-Made Object Photography Receives: Behavioral: Human-Made Object Photography |
| Brief Psychoeducational Stress Management Intervention | Active comparator | Brief Psychoeducational Stress Management Receives: Behavioral: Self-Guided Digital Stress Management Handbook |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Depressive Symptoms
Depressive Symptoms Change in depressive symptoms measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).The PHQ-9 consists of 9 items, with each item rated from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms and represent a worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).
Anxiety Symptoms
Change in anxiety symptoms measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7).The GAD-7 consists of 7 items, with each item rated from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day).Higher scores indicate greater severity of anxiety symptoms and represent a worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).
Secondary outcomes (4)
Nature Connectedness
Change in connection with the natural environment measured by the Nature Connectedness Scale. Higher scores indicate greater nature connectedness and represent a better outcome.
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).
Self-Compassion
Change in self-compassion measured by the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). The scale rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (almost never) to 5 (almost always). Higher scores indicate greater self-compassion and represent a better outcome.
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).
Positive and Negative Affect
Change in emotional states measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).The PANAS rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (very slightly or not at all) to 5 (extremely). Higher Positive Affect scores indicate greater positive affect and represent a better outcome, whereas higher Negative Affect scores indicate greater negative affect and represent a worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3)
Meaning in Life
Change in perceived meaning and purpose in life measured by the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ). The MLQ rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (absolutely untrue) to 7 (absolutely true).
Measured: Baseline (T0), Post-intervention (T2, Day 16), and 1-month Follow-up (T3).
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Sep 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Apr 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Psychological DistressStudies 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
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 300 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Beijing Normal University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- xue weng, Study director, Study Principal Investigator, Beijing Normal University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07803367
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Nature Photography
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 9 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No