MindMove: nature-based physical activity and psychological skills for mental health

ISRCTN	ISRCTN15692603
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15692603
Sponsor	JAMK University of Applied Sciences
Funder	Opetus- ja Kulttuuriministeriö

Submission date: 28/01/2026
Registration date: 30/01/2026
Last edited: 29/01/2026

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Dr Anu Kangasniemi
Principal investigator, Scientific, Public

Piippukatu 2
Jyväskylä
40100
Finland

ORCID ID	0000-0003-4167-299X
Phone	+358 (0)406847006
Email	anu.kangasniemi@jamk.fi

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Allocation	N/A: single arm study
Masking	Open (masking not used)
Control	Uncontrolled
Assignment	Single
Purpose	Prevention
Scientific title	Feasibility and preliminary evaluation of a novel acceptance and commitment therapy-based physical activity intervention in nature for distressed higher education students
Study objectives	The objectives of the study were to: 1. Examine the feasibility and acceptability of the MindMove intervention in promoting students’ subjective mental well-being 2. Explore the different measures and participants’ experiences of the intervention, as well as changes observed in participants’ mental well-being, anxiety, study ability, recovery, restoration and physical activity.
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 23/12/2024, Ethics Committee of Jamk University of Applied Sciences (Jamk University of Applied Sciences, PO Box 207, Jyväskylä, FI-40101, Finland; +358 (0)400159422; eettinentk@jamk.fi), ref: JAMK/4648/13.02/2024 48115
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Mental health
Intervention	MindMove intervention program consists of six group sessions, each lasting about 60-75 minutes, over six consecutive weeks. The first session is held inside, but the rest of the sessions are outdoors in local exercise place with a close connection with nature environment. The program aims to enhance participants´ mental health through physical activity, by teaching Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills and by utilizing the benefits of nature. The program starts with a reflection of one's own situation, health behaviours and thoughts about the possibilities to enhance mental health through physical activity, psychological skills, and utilizing nature. After that, every session is held outdoors, including bodily movement-exercises and physical activity combined with ACT processes, metaphors and discussions. From the ACT perspective, mindfulness and acceptance skills are integrated with the whole program. The first and second session includ esepecially values and values of clarification. The third session focus on acceptance skills of thoughts and emotions, especially when facing barriers. The fourth and fifth sessions´ focus is on mindfulness skills, utilizing nature elements as being mindful and conscious everyday choices. The last sixth session focuses on self as a context and defusion skills. Participants are encouraged to make personal action plans and do some exercises between the sessions, and transfer learnt skills into their own living context. The emphasis of physical activity-related exercises, e.g. walking pace intensity, is personal; participants are encouraged all the time to be physically active as they liked being present with their body and environment.
Intervention type	Behavioural
Primary outcome measure(s)	Feasibility measured using quantitative and qualitative data, with the questionnaires and interviews providing information on whether the intervention is feasible and acceptable in practice by the participants. The semi-structure questionnaire assesses satisfaction with the meetings, perceived value of the meetings and exercises, and practical implementations of the sessions. Responses are rated on a scale from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction or usefulness. Written feedback is also collected through open-ended questions. Participants’ adherence is assessed through number of sessions attended, Participants´ experiences are explored qualitatively through two post-intervention semi-structured focus group interviews. These interviews aim to deepen the understanding of the quantitative data of the intervention’s feasibility and acceptability, as well as participants’ overall experiences with the study process and the intervention itself. The interviews also provide feedback to support the further development of the intervention. Measured at after the study
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Anxiety measured using General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) at before (M1) and after the intervention (M2) Psychological flexibility measured using CompACT questionnaire at M1, M2 Mental well-being measured using the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS) at M1, M2 Self-rated ability to study or work measured using one item adapted from the Work Ability Index (WAI) at M1, M2 Restoration measured using Restoration Outcome Scale (ROS) at M1, M2 Nature connectedness measured using comprehensive nature experience (CNE) at M1, M2 Interoception measured using 24-item Brief Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2 EN) at M1, M2 Heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, stress, and physical activity measured using the Bodyguard 3 device (Firstbeat Technologies Ltd., Finland) worn continuously for 3 days, except during water activities. Firstbeat Life software provided feedback and scores (0–100) for physical activity, sleep, and stress balance at M1, M2
Completion date	31/05/2025

Eligibility

Participant type(s)
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	18 Years
Upper age limit	29 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	30
Total final enrolment	17
Key inclusion criteria	1. Students aged 18–29 years 2. Elevated psychological strain, anxiety, or stress 3. Engage in insufficient physical activity for their health. The current physical activity recommendation for adults was used to support the definition of insufficient activity.
Key exclusion criteria	There were no exclusion criteria apart from age, and eligibility was based on participants’ self-assessment.
Date of first enrolment	03/02/2025
Date of final enrolment	31/03/2025

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Finland

Study participating centres

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not expected to be made available
IPD sharing plan

Editorial Notes

28/01/2026: Study's existence confirmed by the Ethics Committee of Jamk University of Applied Sciences.