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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07720947

Smartphone-based Nature Noticing Intervention

We used a mixed-methods approach involving a RCT study followed by focus group discussions to obtain a more integrative understanding of the effects of a 10-week nature-noticing intervention.

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Key information

Conditions

Social Behaviour Behavior Social Behavior

Age range

15 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong

About this study

Initially, 127 students were recruited from a Hong Kong secondary school. Half of the students (n = 63) were randomly assigned to a 10-week intervention by the school teacher; the students' preferences did not affect the assignments. They were asked to take pictures of nearby nature and share the photos, along with their reflections on what they noticed, in the group chat twice a week for 10 weeks. The other half of the students (n = 64) were not assigned any tasks and served as the control group. Two participants who did not complete the baseline questionnaire were excluded. This resulted in 125 (98.4%) participants who were included in the analysis. Power analysis indicated that the minimum sample size of 54 participants was required for this study, with an alpha level of 0.05, a power of 0.95, and a small-to-medium effect of f(v) = 0.25. The students who more proactively engaged in the 10-week nature photo-taking and sharing were invited to the focus group discussion after the intervention. These participants shared their emotions and thoughts in detail, along with a wider variety of photographic topics, indicating more in-depth observations of their nearby nature. A total of nine participants took part in the discussion.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Hong Kong secondary school students
  • 15-17 years

Exclusion criteria

  • Students receiving intensive psychiatric treatment

Treatment and study plan

Nature-noticing intervention

Behavioral

Participants were asked to notice nearby nature (i.e. 'anywhere with some nature'), to take a photo when they noticed a specific object or scene in nature evoked a strong emotion in them, and to write down thoughts and emotions twice a week for 10 weeks. Participants were further instructed that and upload it to the group chat along with a brief description of the emotions that were evoked.

Primary outcomes

  1. Prosocial behaviour

    Time frame: Baseline and 10 weeks

    Participants' prosocial behaviour was measured using a subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). In the SDQ, prosocial behaviour is associated with individuals' ability to relate well with their peers and engage in actions that benefit those around them. Five items are measured on a 3-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not true) to 3 (certainly true). Higher scores indicate greater degrees of prosocial behaviour.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Social Connectedness

    Time frame: Baseline and 10 weeks

    Social Connectedness Scale - Revised (SCS-R) measures the degree to which youth feel connected to others in their social environment. The SCS-R contains 20 items (10 positive and 10 negative) measured on a 6-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). The negatively worded items are reverse-scored, summed with the positive items and divided by 20 to obtain a total score. Higher scores indicated a greater sense of belonging, closeness and support.

  2. Empathy

    Time frame: Baseline and 10 weeks

    Interpersonal Reactivity Index (B-IRI) measures the degree to which individuals can empathise with others. Among the four sub-scales, empathic concern and perspective-taking were used to obtain the total IRI score [28]. The eight items were measured on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (does not describe me well) to 5 (describes me very well). Higher scores indicate a greater sense of empathy.

  3. Loneliness

    Time frame: Baseline and 10 weeks

    The UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8) measures the severity of respondents' feelings of loneliness. The scale contains eight items measured on a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (never) to 4 (often). Higher scores indicate a greater sense of loneliness.

  4. Self-esteem

    Time frame: Baseline and 10 weeks

    The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) measures respondents' self-esteem. The RSES contains 10 items, which are measured on a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Smartphone-based Nature Noticing Intervention for Cultivating Social Connectedness

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jul 22, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 22, 2026

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.

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