Investigating the mood effects of nature sounds and soothing images in adolescents: a proof-of-concept randomised control pilot study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN16916695 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16916695 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | Wellcome Trust 213527 |
- Submission date
- 27/07/2023
- Registration date
- 29/08/2023
- Last edited
- 16/10/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Previous literature suggests that imagery involving natural stimuli has shown effective and beneficial evidence in improving positive and reducing negative moods among young people. The present study, funded by Wellcome Trust, is planned as a pilot trial to examine whether nature-based sounds and soothing images will help improve adolescents' moods.
Who can participate?
Adolescents aged between 13 and 17 years old
What does the study involve?
The study is completed as an online study where participants are recruited through an online and secured web platform, Qualtrics. The participants will complete a few questionnaires to assess the levels of depression and anxiety for the participants in the past two weeks. Participants also complete questionnaires to assess their positive and negative mood states before and after engaging with a digital intervention. There are different intervention conditions used in this research, and the participants are randomly assigned to one of the three intervention groups. During the intervention period, participants either viewed the soothing images (images only condition) or listened to soothing sounds (sounds only condition) or viewed and listened to the combination of music and sounds (combined condition). After finishing the intervention, they completed the same measures to assess their positive and negative moods.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
By sharing your experiences with us, you will be helping researchers to better understand if nature-related sounds and soothing images can positively change an individual’s mood and well-being. Participation will help also improve your positive mood and reduce negative mood symptoms.
Prior to the study, participants are presented with a detailed information sheet to explain the rationale and process of the study. There are no significant risks associated with participation in this study. The questionnaires used in the study had the potential to make participants more aware of their own moods or other difficulties. However, the questionnaires used are validated standardised measures that had been often used in the research and did not cause any significant distress or discomfort beyond a temporary sense of unease. Participants are provided with the information after the study regarding whom they can contact should they wish to discuss their health and well-being (i.e., their GPs and the organisations and hotlines helpful in providing information and support).
Where is the study run from?
The University of Reading (UK)
When is the study starting, and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2021 to September 2021
Who is funding the study?
The Wellcome Trust (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof Stella Chan, s.chan3@reading.ac.uk. Prof. Stella Chan is an academic clinical psychologist at the University of Reading, specialising in research and clinical practice on young people’s mental health.
Contact information
Principal Investigator
Room no 277, Harry Pitts Building
School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences
The University of Reading
Earley Gate
Whiteknights Campus
Reading
RG6 6ES
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-4088-4528 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)118 378 5508 |
| s.chan3@reading.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | 2 x 3 mixed factor experimental randomized design |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study setting(s) | Internet/virtual |
| Study type | Quality of life, Efficacy |
| Participant information sheet | 44017_PIS.pdf |
| Scientific title | Investigating the mood effects of nature sounds and soothing images in adolescents: a proof-of-concept randomised control pilot study |
| Study objectives | The study aims to test the following hypothesis: 1. Viewing nature-based soothing images, listening to nature-based sounds, and a combination of both would all be related to increased positive mood and reduce negative mood 2. The combination of images and sounds would be related to a greater increase in positive mood and reduced negative mood than the images or sounds in isolation. 3. How baseline level of anxiety and depression would influence the extent of mood changes. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 28/06/2021, University of Reading, Research Ethics Committee (Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6ES, United Kingdom; +44 (0)118 378 5508; projectsoothe@reading.ac.uk), ref: 2021-073-SC |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Improving positive and negative mood symptoms among adolescents |
| Intervention | The intervention comprises of viewing or listening to nature based-sounds and images. The intervention was conducted online using Qualtrics. The participants were randomly allocated to three conditions using randomisation programming in Qualtrics. The intervention conditions consisted of viewing 25 images (image condition), 25 sounds (sounds condition) or 25 images & sounds combined (combined condition). |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | The following outcome measures will be completed pre and post-intervention: 1. Positive and negative affect measured using International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Short Form (I-PANAS-SF) 2. Serenity mood states measured using the Serenity Subscale from the PANAS-X questionnaire 3. Anxiety and depression states assessed using the Profile of Mood States-Adolescents – Tension-Anxiety Subscale and Depression-Dejection Subscale (POMS-A) |
| Secondary outcome measures | At baseline, prior to the intervention, the following measures will be used: 1. Depression assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) 2. Anxiety symptoms assessed using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) |
| Overall study start date | 01/02/2021 |
| Completion date | 01/09/2021 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 13 Years |
| Upper age limit | 17 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 120 |
| Total final enrolment | 148 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Adolescents between 13 and 17 years of age 2. Adolescents self-identifying as understanding and speaking fluent English 3. Adolescents with access to an internet connection and a digital device |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Not within the inclusion age criteria 2. Participants who did not provide complete responses |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/06/2021 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/08/2021 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
Harry Pitt Building
Earley Gate
Reading
RG6 7BE
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
University/education
C/o: Mike Proven
Head of Quality Assurance in Research
Whiteknights Campus
PO Box 217
Reading, Berkshire
RG6 6AH
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)118 378 7119 |
|---|---|
| m.j.proven@reading.ac.uk | |
| Website | https://www.reading.ac.uk/UnivRead/vb/RES/qar_public/QAR%20Coordinator.htm |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/05v62cm79 |
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Private sector organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
- Alternative name(s)
- Wellcome, WT
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 15/08/2023 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | The manuscript has been conditionally accepted for publication at Welcome Open Research. The manuscript will be published after registering the study as a clinical trial and adding the registration details in the manuscript. |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request from Prof. Stella Chan (s.chan3@reading.ac.uk). Data can be shared with applicants affiliated with an institution. They will be provided with the anonymised dataset as a .csv file with a key to aid the interpretation of the data. Data are available immediately upon request after the publication of the article. Each participant completed an electronic consent after reading the participant information sheet and prior to beginning the research study. There are no ethical or legal restrictions. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | 07/08/2023 | No | Yes | ||
| Preprint results | 09/10/2023 | 16/10/2023 | No | No |
Additional files
Editorial Notes
16/10/2023: Preprint added.
07/08/2023: Trial's existence confirmed by The School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences Ethics Committee, University of Reading (UK).
