Mindfulness Training plus Nature Exposure for Veterans with Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders: A Model...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Veterans with psychiatric and substance use disorders require novel interventions to improve treatment engagement.
• Mindfulness training (MT) and nature exposure (NE) show promise individually, but their combined effects (MT/NE) are untested.
• Recreational sailing was used as a novel method for delivering a combined MT/NE intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a combined mindfulness training and nature exposure (MT/NE) intervention for veterans.
• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the MT/NE model.
• To develop an evaluation framework for future MT/NE studies.

Main Methods:

• A pilot feasibility and acceptability study was conducted.
• The intervention combined mindfulness training with nature exposure through recreational sailing.
• Psychological instruments were used to measure outcomes pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The MT/NE intervention model was found to be feasible and acceptable for the veteran population.
• Significant decreases in state anxiety and increases in trait mindfulness were observed post-intervention.
• Three validated psychological instruments were identified for future outcome evaluation.

Conclusions:

• A combined MT/NE intervention model, delivered via recreational sailing, is a feasible and acceptable approach for veterans.
• This pilot study provides a template for future research on MT/NE interventions using various nature-based activities.
• The findings support the potential of MT/NE as a complementary approach for improving mental health in veterans.