Nature walks beat city strolls for beating the blues
NCT ID NCT06989801
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether walking in nature reduces depressive symptoms more than walking in a city. 138 college students with mild to moderate depression were randomly assigned to take 30-minute walks twice a week for three weeks in either a natural or urban setting. Some nature walkers also got guided prompts to engage with their surroundings. The main goal was to see if nature walks led to greater drops in depression scores.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
nature walk
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a simple, free way to help ease depression symptoms in college students.
What could go wrong
This is a small, completed study with only 138 participants. The effect may be modest or not apply to people with more severe depression.
Disclaimer
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the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Condon Hall
Seattle, Washington, 98105, United States
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Merrill Hall
Seattle, Washington, 98105, United States