Examining Effects of Active Plant Engagement on College Student Well-Being and Performance

Running, not enrolling · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Perceived Stress, State Anxiety, Intrinsic Goal Orientation, Study Habits, Mood, Sleep Quality, Connectedness to Nature, Extrinsic Goal Orientation

In brief

The goal of this feasibility study is to determine if active engagement with plants (e.g. care, maintenance) improves mental health and academic performance in college students. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does active engagement with plants result in improvements in academic motivation and study habits? 2. Does active engagement with plants result in reductions in stress and improvements in mood? Researchers will compare two interventions groups (campus plant engagement group and home plant engagement group) to the comparison group (no plant engagement or passive exposure) to clarify the practical and potential benefits of active plant care for college students. Participants will: * Complete four surveys over the course of a 16-week semester * Water, prune and check the soil of their assigned plants

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07228013

Run by

Colorado State University

People needed

87

Starts

2025-08-22

Expected to finish

2026-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-01-13

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Enrolled in in-person HES courses during the study semester
• Not currently growing/caring for plants
• Willing to comply with assigned intervention
• Able to complete surveys in English
• Available for 16-week duration

You may not qualify if…

• Current enrollment in other intervention studies targeting mental health/academic performance
• Severe plant allergies (e.g. to pollen, mold) regardless of the use of non-toxic and non-pollen plants

Where it is running

• Colorado State University Health and Exercise Science Department — Fort Collins, Colorado, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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