Completed

NCT Number: NCT02124837

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Exposure to Nature During Lunch Breaks Relaxation Exercises During Lunch Breaks

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Tampere

Tampere, Pirkanmaa, 33014, Finland

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

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

Treatment and study plan

Park walk during lunch break

Behavioral

Relaxation during lunch break

Behavioral

Primary outcomes

Well-being

Time frame: 7 weeks

Questionnaire data
Job performance

Time frame: 7 weeks

Questionnaire data
Creativity

Time frame: 7 weeks

Questionnaire data
Health

Time frame: 7 weeks

Questionnaire data
Salivary cortisol

Time frame: 7 weeks

Collection of saliva samples, 3 times per day, 2 times a week for a period of 7 weeks
Blood pressure

Time frame: 7 weeks

Self-administered blood pressure measurements, 3 times per day, 2 days per week for a period of 7 weeks

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Tampere University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

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

Important dates

Study start: 2014
Primary completion: 2014
Study completion: 2014
First posted: Apr 28, 2014
Registry last updated: Dec 2, 2014

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

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

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.