Hybrid- Nature: Recovering From Work Through Nature Experiences (HybridNature)

JAMK University Of Applied Sciences

Status: Completed

Conditions: Restorative Experiences; Physiological Recovery; Psychological Recovery

Treatments: Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature; Behavioral: Exposure to virtual nature

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05830656

JAMKUAS_Hybridnature

Details and patient eligibility

About

The research examines employees' recovery from work stress during visits in nearby nature and when viewing virtual nature with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles. The research provides information on the physiological and psychological recovery of employees who do remote or hybrid work. Recovery is analysed with qualitative and quantitative methods including Firstbeat Life measurements, surveys and interviews. The results can be used in workplaces to develop operating models to promote well-being in remote and hybrid work. The research generates new understanding on how employees' recovery can be supported by means of virtual nature tourism services.

Full description

An intervention study with a cross-over research design will be conducted among a sample of 60 employees who do remote or hybrid work. The intervention phase lasts in total of four weeks. During the first week (control phase), the participants continue their daily routine as normal. During the second week of the intervention, a half of the participants are randomised to visit a nearby natural area after finishing work (exposure to nearby nature). The other half of the participants are randomised to view virtual nature videos with VR goggles after finishing work (exposure to virtual nature). On the third week of the intervention, the participants complete nature exposure the other way around. That is, those participants who took part first in exposure to nearby nature will view virtual nature, and vice versa. On the fourth week of the intervention, the participants take part in a semi-structured focus group interview.

Recovering from work in nearby nature and virtual nature is examined through multidisciplinary perspectives of health, well-being, and tourism. The aim of the research is to find new ways of promoting work stress recovery, psychological detachment and restoration among employees when they are making the transition between work time and personal time. These research findings are particularly relevant for fields in which there has been a growing trend for remote or hybrid work. This research is funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund (Project Number: 220076).

Enrollment: 57 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Employees who do remote or hybrid work
• Able to communicate adequately in Finnish in order to participate

Exclusion criteria

• No exclusion criteria for study participation.
• Firstbeat Life analyses are only available for participants who identify themselves on the basis of biological sex of female or male.
• Firstbeat Life analyses might be unreliable for participants with some health-related issues (e.g., pacemaker, heart transplantation, complex cardiac disease, persistent atrial fibrillation or flutter, or uncontrolled thyroid disease) and therefore measurements will not be performed for them as a part of this research.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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57 participants in 2 patient groups

Control, Then exposure to nearby nature, Then exposure to virtual nature

Experimental group

Description:

During the first week, the participants continue their normal routine at work and in leisure time. On the second week, the participants visit a nearby natural area after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). On the third week, the participants watch virtual nature videos with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure to virtual nature

Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature

Control, Then exposure to virtual nature, Then exposure to nearby nature

Experimental group

Description:

During the first week, the participants continue their normal routine at work and in leisure time. On the second week, the participants watch virtual nature videos with Virtual Reality (VR) goggles after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). On the third week, the participants visit a nearby natural area after finishing their workday on three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure to virtual nature

Behavioral: Exposure to nearby nature