Can a 20-minute forest walk beat scrolling for stress? study puts four activities to the test.
NCT ID NCT07673653
First seen Jun 29, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study compares how four different 20-minute activities—guided meditation, a forest walk (forest bathing), smartphone scrolling, and reading—affect stress and anxiety. One hundred Italian-speaking adults will provide saliva samples and fill out questionnaires before and after the activity to measure changes in cortisol and perceived stress. The goal is to see which experience best lowers short-term stress and whether a person's usual mindfulness level plays a role.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If one activity clearly reduces stress more than others, it could guide simple, low-cost recommendations for managing daily stress.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, non-randomized study with only one session per activity. Results may not apply to long-term stress or to people with medical conditions.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Cascina Cravino Via Bassi 21
Pavia, Italia, 27100, Italy
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