Comparison of indoor versus outdoor mindfulness interventions for veterans: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
Psychological services July 21, 2025 Tracy Herrmann, Joanna Ellen Bettmann, Adam Hanley et al. 1 citation
Veterans often avoid or drop out of mental health treatment, so new approaches are needed. A nature-based mindfulness intervention was tested against an indoor version for veterans with mental illness. Forty-one veterans from a Veterans Affairs health care center were randomly assigned to either a six-session outdoor or indoor group mindfulness program. More veterans completed the outdoor program than the indoor one, though average attendance did not differ. The outdoor group also showed greater reductions in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms over time. Nature-based interventions may help reduce stigma and improve treatment completion rates for veterans.