Biological and Behavioral Outcomes of Community Nature Walks

Examining Anti-Racist Healing in Nature to Protect Telomeres of Transitional Age BIPOC for Health Equity

The investigators will test the efficacy of our proposed intervention to reduce embodied stress in four racial/ethnic groups (Black, Latinx, Pilipinx, and Pacific Islander) as a preventative intervention for health disparities found in these communities. The intervention is comprised of two phases. The first consists of community nature walks in a pristine redwood forest for six months. This is followed by chosen nature activities with family and/or friends for three months. The investigators will test the ability of these activities in nature to reduce chronic stress that underpins many health disparities using validated biological, behavioral, and sociocultural measures. The use of these measures is in alignment with the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework, and will increase understanding of individual, interpersonal, community, and social level factors that lead to, and that can eliminate health disparities.

The investigators will test the efficacy of our proposed intervention to reduce embodied stress in four racial/ethnic groups (Black, Latinx, Pilipinx, and Pacific Islander) as a preventative intervention for health disparities found in these communities. The intervention is comprised of two phases. The first consists of community nature walks in a pristine redwood forest for six months. This is followed by chosen nature activities with family and/or friends for three months. The investigators will test the ability of these activities in nature to reduce chronic stress that underpins many health disparities using validated biological, behavioral, and sociocultural measures. The use of these measures is in alignment with the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Framework, and will increase understanding of individual, interpersonal, community, and social level factors that lead to, and that can eliminate health disparities.

Since the study is a waitlisted control, all participants are aware of which condition they are in at any time.

Waitlist control; all participants receive the treatment but are in a control condition prior to the treatment

The purpose of the community intervention is to prevent health disparities in Black, Latinx, Pilipinx, and Pacific Islander communities of San Francisco, California.

Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention

Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention

Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention

Positive And Negative Affect Scale International version (PANAS-I) (Likert-type self-reported measurement)

Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention

total number of steps per day, assessed by Apple's Health Application on phones in the name of the outcome measure.

Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention

Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention

Baseline (pre-intervention), during intervention, immediate post-intervention, 3 months after intervention

Inclusion critieria: 18 years or older able to commit to a 9-month Nature Intervention (6-month walks; 3-month chosen nature activity) spoken languages: English, Spanish, or Tagalog able-bodied as in must be able to walk. Exclusion criteria: pregnant women (and other gender identities who are pregnant) prisoners cognitively impaired