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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT06614517

Bird Watching to Reduce Stress in University Students

The goal of this study is to learn if birdwatching can reduce stress in university students. It will also explore students; experiences with the intervention. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does birdwatching reduce students perceived stress levels? What are the experiences of students who participate in the birdwatching intervention? Why do some students drop out of the study? Researchers will compare a group of students who participate in birdwatching outings to a control group that does not receive the intervention to determine if birdwatching is effective in reducing stress.

Participants will:

Either participate in birdwatching outings or be in a control group with no intervention Complete a perceived stress scale (PSS-10) to measure their stress levels Take part in semi-structured interviews to discuss their experiences with the intervention or their reasons for dropping out of the study

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Key information

Conditions

Stress, Psychologic Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Stress, Psychological

Age range

18 year–100 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga, Santander Department, Colombia

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • University students who meet the following inclusion criteria will be included in the study: being 18 years of age or older, being enrolled in any undergraduate program at the Universidad Industrial de Santander, having a score of 10 or higher on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and having access to WhatsApp.

Exclusion criteria

  • University students with a medical diagnosis of any mental illness under pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment, with health conditions that prevent them from seeing, hearing, or moving, as well as students who have engaged in birdwatching in the last six months, will not be included.

Treatment and study plan

Birdwatching Intervention

Other

Description: Participants will attend three birdwatching sessions, where they will enjoy direct contact with nature in selected environments such as forests and farms. These outings will be guided by an expert, who will also introduce participants to the use of binoculars and tools for identifying the birds observed during the excursions. During the outings, participants will learn the body scan technique, which will help them focus on physical sensations without making judgments. This exercise will encourage them to pay attention to details such as muscle tension, temperature, or surface contact, allowing them to be more present and connected to their surroundings during the birdwatching sessions. In addition to the in-person outings, participants will receive digital materials via WhatsApp to complement the intervention.Birdwatching Intervention

Primary outcomes

  1. Adherence to the intervention

    Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group

    To determine adherence to the intervention, the proportion of students who successfully completed the number of sessions and challenges outlined in the intervention protocol will be calculated, as well as the number of university students who dropped out of the intervention

  2. The Perceived Stress Scale

    Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group.

    Perceived Stress Scale: (PSS-10). This instrument measures the level of perceived stress during the last month. It consists of 10 questions with a five-option Likert-type response format. The score ranges from 0 to 40. A higher score indicates a higher level of perceived stress.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)

    Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group

    The GAD-7 is used to measure anxiety symptoms. It consists of 7 items, each rated on a scale from 0 to 3, with total scores ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.

  2. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group

    The PHQ-9 is a self-report outcome questionnaire used to screen for depressive symptoms. It consists of 9 items. Responses are scored on a scale from 0 to 3, with total scores ranging from 0 to 27. Higher scores indicate more severe depression.

  3. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

    Time frame: From enrollment to the three follow-up evaluations at 6, 9, and 17 weeks after assignment to the intervention or control group

    It consists of 19 self-administered questions, rated on a scale from 0 to 3, generating an overall score from 0 to 21. Higher overall scores represent worse subjective sleep quality.

Other outcomes

  1. Feasibility- implementation of the intervention

    Time frame: From inclusion in the study until the last follow up at 17 weeks

    The Feasibility of Intervention measure gauges how practical and possible it is to implement an intervention within a given setting. Semi-structured interviews with the interveners.

  2. Feasibility - Enrollment

    Time frame: From the first day of study recruitment until the date of the last participant to complete the intervention, assessed up to 17 weeks

    Enrollment rates calculated as percentage of enrolled vs interested participants

  3. Experiance

    Time frame: From inclusion in the study until the last follow up at 17 weeks

    Semi-structured interviews with study participants.

  4. Participant Attrition Rate

    Time frame: Up to 17 weeks after study start

    Percentage of enrolled participants who withdraw or are lost to follow-up before completion of study procedures. Unit of Measure: Percentage.

  5. Overall compliance

    Time frame: From day of recruitment of the first participant to day of the last follow-up meeting of the last participant, assessed up to 17 weeks.

    Number of participants that completed all questionnaires at baseline, 6 weeks, 9 weeks and 17 weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universidad Industrial de Santander

Other

Registry information

Official study title

EVALUATION OF BIRD WATCHING IN REDUCING STRESS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Sep 26, 2024
Registry last updated
Jun 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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