Abstract
Objectives
Various active control interventions for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) have been developed, though many can fall short in controlling for non-specific or placebo effects. We developed a Nature-Based Stress Reduction (NBSR) program based on previously reported positive results from virtual natural environment exposure on mental health.
Methods
In the present study, we present the NBSR program with its components that were matched with MBSR to ensure equality in structure, duration, contacts, and intensity, but not in specific active components (i.e., mindfulness meditation). Furthermore, we characterized the nature video component of NBSR (videos consisting of scenes of nature) as an attention-matched activity equivalent to the formal meditation practice components of MBSR. Videos were edited with creator permissions and freely online available content to include ten 3-min clips for scenes of nature from 8 different biomes. All clips were viewed by 3 different staff members and rated based on hedonic valence (pleasant to unpleasant). Each 30-min video set was designed to have a ratio of 4 pleasant, 3 unpleasant, and 3 neutral valence clips consistent with the documented heterogeneity of affective experiences during mindfulness meditation. Amazon Mechanical Turk Workers (n = 127) rated hedonic valence and self-reported arousal for individual video clips. We conducted ANOVA and t-tests to establish how hedonic valence differed by proposed valence category.
Results
Mean valence ratings significantly differed between the three categories of nature video clips using an ANOVA test (p < .001). Follow-up pairwise t-tests revealed significant differences between valence ratings for pleasant vs. unpleasant (p < .001), neutral vs. unpleasant (p < .001), and pleasant vs. neutral (p < .01).
Conclusions
The subjective experience of NBSR nature videos was reported as pleasant, with higher variability reported for unpleasant clips. This pattern generally parallels the variability and heterogeneity of subjective experiences during mindfulness meditation. These findings demonstrate that the nature video component of NBSR provides promising attention- and valence-matched placebo activity unrelated to mindfulness meditation. A comparison of NBSR versus MBSR in a randomized controlled trial is needed to validate NBSR; however, the freely available nature videos may be a useful component to match mindfulness meditation practice in studies.
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Funding
This study was made possible through grant funding provided by The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH): “Boosting mind–body mechanisms and outcomes for chronic pain” (P01AT009965) (PI: Napadow). Dr. Datko was also supported by NCCIH through T32AT000051 (PI: Yeh).
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DG: Executed the study, drafted the manuscript and assisted with data interpretation and analyses. MP: Designed and executed the study, drafted the manuscript, provided critical revision, and assisted with data interpretation and analysis. MD: Designed and executed the study, drafted the manuscript, provided critical revision, and assisted with data interpretation and analysis. TF: Executed the study, helped draft the manuscript and assisted with data interpretation and analysis. AL: Assisted with study concept and design. TJK: Assisted with study concept and design and provided critical revision. VN: Assisted with study design and concept and provided critical revision. RER: Assisted with study design and concept and provided critical revision. ZSO: Designed and executed the study, drafted the manuscript, provided critical revision, and assisted with data interpretation and analysis. Danielle Giachos and Myrella Paschali are co-first authors.
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The study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethical approval was received from the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) Institutional Review Board.
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An exemption in accordance with Federal Regulation (45 CFR 46.104) was approved by the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) Institutional Review Board requesting a waiver of documentation of consent due to the no more than minimal risk of harm to subjects and absence of procedures for which written consent is normally required outside of a research context. Electronic informed consent was obtained from all subjects when they clicked on the link to participate in the study.
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Giachos, D., Paschali, M., Datko, M.C. et al. Characterizing Nature Videos for an Attention Placebo Control for MBSR: The Development of Nature-Based Stress Reduction (NBSR). Mindfulness 13, 1577–1589 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01903-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-022-01903-w