EFFECT OF NATURE-BASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.08.1828
• Publication Date: 2023-11-05T02:53:42Z
• Authors: Sadaf Ahmed; Shamoon Noushad; Basit Ansari
• Keywords: Hydrocortisone; Interleukin-6; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Health Personnel; Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry; 3. Good health; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; 03 medical and health sciences; C-Reactive Protein; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Exercise; Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological; RC321-571

AbstractThe purpose of this randomized control trial was to observe the effect of nature‐based physical activity in achieving post traumatic growth and to estimate the combined effect of nature and physical activity on the psychophysiological outcomes. A 3‐month therapy was provided to participants meeting eligibility criteria to receive the walk‐in nature (experimental group) or sit‐in nature (control group) in the 1:1 ratio. At baseline and 3‐month follow‐up, participants were assessed with Trauma Symptom Checklist 40, Traumatic Stress Scale, Post‐Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Cortisol, C‐Reactive Protein (CRP), Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), Brain‐Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) and heart rate variability. There was a significant effect of nature‐based physical activity on traumatic stress and post‐traumatic growth in comparison with the sit‐in control. A significant post‐interventional difference was observed in the mean PTGI score [F = 5.412, p = 0.022] between the experimental and control groups after 3 months of intervention. All the biochemical estimates, including CRP, BDNF, IL‐6, and cortisol levels, were significantly altered in both post‐intervention study groups (p < 0.01). Taken together, these results show that nature‐based physical activity significantly improves psychophysiological outcomes induced as a result of post‐traumatic growth and also reduces traumatic stress.