Stress reduction in healthy adults: combining physical activity and relaxation

One hour time for stress reduction: combining physical activity and relaxation - a randomised controlled trial in healthy adults

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN18122954

Enrollment

Registered

2015-05-29

Start date

2012-08-15

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2019-02-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Stress in healthy adults. Not Applicable

Interventions

Participants complete four different stress-relieving interventions lasting one hour each in random sequence: 1. 30 min moderate physical activity (supervised walking across a fixed, f

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. German-speaking 2. Healthy men and women 3. Currently employed 4. Aged 30-60

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Participants diagnosed with any diseases 2. Participants currently taking medication that influences blood pressure and/or cortisol levels (e.g. rheumatic or cardiovascular diseases, Morbus Cushing, hypertensive medication) 3. Pregnancy or lactation period

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Salivary cortisol: saliva samples will be collected before intervention, then again one hour later on each study day 2. Blood pressure: measurements will be taken before and after intervention on each study day 3. State of mood: will be measured before and after intervention on each study day using the Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaire (MDBF), a validated multidimensional measurement for mood. Three bipolar dimensions are measured: (1) good mood - bad mood, (2) alertness – tiredness and (3) calmness – restlessness 4. Subjective relaxation: participants’ actual level of subjective relaxation will be measured before and after intervention on each study day using a rating scale (1-10) with 1 indicating no relaxation and 10 indicating high relaxation	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Salivary cortisol: saliva samples will be collected before intervention, then again one hour later on each study day 2. Blood pressure: measurements will be taken before and after intervention on each study day 3. State of mood: will be measured before and after intervention on each study day using the Multidimensional Mood State Questionnaire (MDBF), a validated multidimensional measurement for mood. Three bipolar dimensions are measured: (1) good mood - bad mood, (2) alertness – tiredness and (3) calmness – restlessness 4. Subjective relaxation: participants’ actual level of subjective relaxation will be measured before and after intervention on each study day using a rating scale (1-10) with 1 indicating no relaxation and 10 indicating high relaxation

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Individual stress levels and bodily complaints will be measured using three validated questionnaires at study entry: Hamburger Burnout Inventory (HBI), the Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress (TICS), and the health complaints list (BL) 2. Cortisol awakening response measurement: participants will collect saliva samples directly after waking up in the morning on the second study day	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Individual stress levels and bodily complaints will be measured using three validated questionnaires at study entry: Hamburger Burnout Inventory (HBI), the Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress (TICS), and the health complaints list (BL) 2. Cortisol awakening response measurement: participants will collect saliva samples directly after waking up in the morning on the second study day

—

Countries

Austria

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026