Intervention Study on Break Activities and Workers´ Psychological and Physiological Health & Performance

Exposure to Nature During Lunch Breaks Clinical Trial

Official title:

An Intervention Study to Investigate the Effect of Different Types of Break Activities on Workers´ Psychological and Physiological Health & Job Performance

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02124837
• Other study ID #: 257682SA
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: April 24, 2014
• Last updated: December 1, 2014
• Start date: April 2014
• Est. completion date: November 2014

Study information

• Verified date: December 2014
• Source: University of Tampere
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Finland: University of TampereFinland: Academy of Finland
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The objective of this research project is to understand and to improve workers´ recovery from work stress. Although recovery during lunch breaks is the most common within-workday break, it has received only minor research attention. Therefore, we will study whether lunch breaks including a relaxation session or exposure to nature have more favorable outcomes than usually spent lunch breaks concerning: a) recovery processes, b) health, c) well-being, d) job performance and e) creativity. We approach recovery by combining the theoretical frameworks of work and environmental psychology.

Description:

We conduct an intervention study in a sample of 200 knowledge-workers who engage in different lunch break activities for 15-minutes per day, two weeks in a row. We randomly assign participants to three experimental conditions: 1) exposure to nature, 2) relaxation and 3) control group (lunch break spent as usual). Online questionnaires before and after the intervention assess long term changes regarding recovery processes and the major outcome variables. Before, during and after the intervention, SMS and paper-pencil questionnaires measure the same constructs four times a day with fewer items. We also measure blood pressure and collect saliva samples to map cortisol excretion across the intervention period. A timed experimental task (i.e., the Alternative Uses Task) is used to examine differences in creativity between the three groups after the intervention period.

By combining the knowledge of work and environmental psychology about recovery and restorative experiences, by merging three recovery perspectives (settings, processes, and outcomes) and by using data triangulation, we produce valid results that broaden our view on mechanisms underlying recovery and enhance our understanding about their links to psychological, behavioural and physiological outcomes, resulting in a more comprehensive picture of work stress recovery in general.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 200
• Est. completion date: November 2014
• Est. primary completion date: November 2014
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 70 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being able to speak and understand Finnish language

• Paid work for at least 24 hours per week

Exclusion Criteria:

• Shift work, highly irregular working hours

• Serious illness or allergies that prevent participants from walking in nature

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Supportive Care

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Exposure to Nature During Lunch Breaks
• Relaxation Exercises During Lunch Breaks

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Park walk during lunch break

• Relaxation during lunch break

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Finland	University of Tampere	Tampere	Pirkanmaa

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Tampere

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Finland, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Well-being	Questionnaire data	7 weeks	No
Primary	Job performance	Questionnaire data	7 weeks	No
Primary	Creativity	Questionnaire data	7 weeks	No
Primary	Health	Questionnaire data	7 weeks	No
Primary	Salivary cortisol	Collection of saliva samples, 3 times per day, 2 times a week for a period of 7 weeks	7 weeks	No
Primary	Blood pressure	Self-administered blood pressure measurements, 3 times per day, 2 days per week for a period of 7 weeks	7 weeks	No