Exploring the experiences of resident doctors in child and adolescent psychiatry with virtual reality-based simulation training: a qualitative study.

Background: The use of virtual reality simulation for the training of non-technical skills among healthcare professionals may improve professional development as well as the quality of care. This study aims to explore the experiences of resident doctors in child and adolescent psychiatry with the use of virtual reality-based simulation for the training of non-technical skills.

Methods: The study had an exploratory qualitative design.

Participatory Development of a Virtual Reality Exercise Program for People with Chronic Pain.

By describing how a participatory process led to changes in the design of a study of a virtual reality (VR)-guided exercise and mindfulness intervention tailored to people with chronic musculoskeletal pain, this article makes the case for including end user at an early stage when planning research within this field. A multidisciplinary panel including end-user representatives, researcher, clinicians, and VR developers participated in a 1-day workshop to design a randomized study and a VR-guided intervention. Through the participatory process, changes were made to the original study design with respect to experimental design, duration, content of VR interventions and mode of delivery.

Effects of immersive virtual nature on nature connectedness: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: This study systematically summarizes the extant literature on the impacts of immersive virtual nature (IVN) on nature connectedness in the general population.

Methods: Papers were considered eligible if peer-reviewed, in English language, comprising experimental or quasi-experimental trials, including at least one outcome relative to nature connectedness in the general population. Database search was conducted on Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Medline, and GreenFILE (22-28 November 2021).

The significance of green exercise for the health and wellbeing of Italian immigrants in Norway: a mixed-methods study.

Background: Green exercise (physical activity in presence of nature) has beneficial effects for health and wellbeing. Green exercise is a popular form of recreation in the Nordic countries, but participation is lower among the immigrant population from non-Western countries. However, no attention has been given to immigrants from the European Economic Area regarding this topic.

Nature visits during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway: Facilitators, motives, and associations with sociodemographic characteristics.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to increased mental health issues and reduced well-being. Researchers also reports increased frequency of nature visits during the pandemic, proposing it may mitigate some of these negative consequences. Using the case of Norway, a country with ample access to nature and relatively low levels of pandemic-related restrictions, this study sought to (i) understand how the COVID-19 crisis impacted patterns of nature visits and specific nature-based activities, (ii) examine how these patterns varied among different population groups and levels of restrictions, and (iii) explore the motives and facilitators for increased frequency of nature visits.

Psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the effects of outdoor green and virtual green exercise during self-paced walking.

Physical activity in the presence of nature can lead to additional, more distinct mental health benefits such as lower stress and anxiety levels and an overall better psychological state when compared to indoor physical activity. Interestingly, the brain mechanisms underlying the effects of green exercise (GE) and virtual green exercise (VGE) on psychological responses are hitherto under-researched. The present study sought to deepen our understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying the effects of GE and VGE during self-paced walking.

Theoretical construct into blocks of actigraphic-derived sleep parameters.

Actigraphic parameters can provide indication of people's sleep quality during their daily lives. However, there is a need for clear guidelines on the understanding of the different actigraphic parameters. The present study aims to propose a conceptual and theoretical framework for known actigraphic-derived parameters, which is able to describe the alternation between rest and wake phases during the nocturnal sleep, explaining their main characteristics and interrelations that can be replicated in future studies.

Seasonal Variations in the Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Nature.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess whether the outcomes of immersive virtual nature (IVN) varies between seasons.

Background: IVN has received increased interest in recent years due to its potential applications within health and design. However, factors influencing people's responses to IVN are largely unknown.

Effects of immersive virtual nature on nature connectedness: A systematic review protocol.

Objective: Nature Connectedness, an individual's cognitive, affective, and behavioral connection with the natural world, has been linked to various health and well-being outcomes. As Nature Connectedness can be elicited and strengthened through direct contact with nature, in the past decade studies have investigated whether similar effects can be achieved through technologies that simulate highly immersive and realistic experiences of nature, such as Immersive Virtual Nature. This protocol describes the methodology for a systematic review that will summarize the existing evidence on the effects of Immersive Virtual Nature on Nature Connectedness in non-clinical populations.

Taking real steps in virtual nature: a randomized blinded trial.

Studies show that green exercise (i.e., physical activity in the presence of nature) can provide the synergistic psychophysiological benefits of both physical exercise and nature exposure.

Self-Rated Health Among Italian Immigrants Living in Norway: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Most studies on immigrant health focus on immigrant groups coming from extra-European and/or low-income countries. Little attention is given to self-rated health (SRH) in the context EU/EEA migration. To know more about health among European immigrants can provide new insights related to social determinants of health in the migration context.

Physiological recovery among workers in long-distance sleddog races: A case study on female veterinarians in Finnmarksløpet.

Background: During Finnmarksløpet (FL, one of the longest distance sleddog races in the world), veterinarians are exposed to extreme environmental conditions and tight working schedules, with little and fragmented sleep.

Objective: The aim of this case study was to examine cardiovascular parameters and sleep-wake patterns among veterinarians working within FL, during and after (for a month) the end of the race.

Methods: Six female veterinarians volunteered for the study.

Physical Activity Levels and Perceived Changes in the Context of Intra-EEA Migration: A Study on Italian Immigrants in Norway.

As mobility within the European Economic Area (EEA) is on the rise, it is important to understand migrants' health-related behaviors (such as physical activity [PA]) within this context. This study investigated i) the extent to which Italian immigrants in Norway perceive that moving had a negative or positive impact on their PA; ii) possible differences between the PA of the Italian immigrants compared with the Norwegian population; and iii) possible associations of the Italian immigrants' PA with key sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, region of residence, and educational level). The data were retrieved from the study.

Effects on sleep from group activity with a robotic seal for nursing home residents with dementia: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Sleep disturbances are common in people with dementia and increase with the severity of the disease. Sleep disturbances are complex and caused by several factors and are difficult to treat. There is a need for more robust and systematic studies dealing with sleep disturbances in older people with dementia.

Proposing a Framework for the Restorative Effects of Nature through Conditioning: Conditioned Restoration Theory.

Natural environments have been shown to trigger psychological and physiological restoration in humans. A new framework regarding natural environments restorative properties is proposed. Conditioned restoration theory builds on a classical conditioning paradigm, postulating the occurrence of four stages: (i) unconditioned restoration, unconditioned positive affective responses reliably occur in a given environment (such as in a natural setting); (ii) restorative conditioning, the positive affective responses become conditioned to the environment; (iii) conditioned restoration, subsequent exposure to the environment, in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus, retrieves the same positive affective responses; and (iv) stimulus generalization, subsequent exposure to associated environmental cues retrieves the same positive affective responses.

The Effects of Workplace Nature-Based Interventions on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Employees: A Systematic Review.

Mental health in the workplace is a societal challenge with serious economical and human costs. Most prevalent mental disorders in the workforce (e.g.

Enable, Reconnect and Augment: A New ERA of Virtual Nature Research and Application.

Being exposed to natural environments is associated with improved health and well-being, as these environments are believed to promote feelings of "being away" from everyday struggles, positive emotional reactions and stress reduction. Despite these positive effects, humanity is becoming increasingly more distanced from nature due to societal changes, such as increased urbanization and the reduced accessibility of natural environments. Technology is also partly to blame, as research suggests that people replace nature contact with increased screen time.

Do "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun?" Participation Trends and Motivational Profiles of Women in the Birkebeiner Races, Norway's Ultimate Mass Participation Ski Event.

Mass participation sporting events (MPSEs) are viewed as encouraging regular exercise in the population, but concerns have been expressed about the extent to which they are inclusive for women. This study focuses on an iconic cross-country skiing MPSE in Norway, the Birkebeiner race (BR), which includes different variants (main, Friday, half-distance, and women-only races). In order to shed light on women's participation in this specific MPSE, as well as add to the understanding of women's MPSEs participation in general, this study was set up to: (i) analyze trends in women's participation, (ii) examine the characteristics, and (iii) identify key factors characterizing the motivational profile of women in different BR races, with emphasis on the full-distance vs.

Camera Stabilization in 360° Videos and Its Impact on Cyber Sickness, Environmental Perceptions, and Psychophysiological Responses to a Simulated Nature Walk: A Single-Blinded Randomized Trial.

Immersive virtual environments (IVEs) technology has emerged as a valuable tool to environmental psychology research in general, and specifically to studies of human-nature interactions. However, virtual reality is known to induce cyber sickness, which limits its application and highlights the need for scientific strategies to optimize virtual experiences. In this study, we assessed the impact of improved camera stability on cyber sickness, presence, and psychophysiological responses to a simulated nature walk.

A cross-sectional and 6-year follow-up study of associations between leisure time physical activity and vertebral fracture in adults.

Introduction: Vertebral fractures are common osteoporotic fractures, affecting 2-46% of the population, causing morbidity and increased risk of mortality. Physical activity has beneficial effects for bone health, including increased bone mineral density and reduced hip fractures. However, evidence concerning prevention of vertebral fractures is scarce.

An Exploratory Study of Extreme Sport Athletes' Nature Interactions: From Well-Being to Pro-environmental Behavior.

Traditionally, perceptions about extreme sport athletes being disconnected from nature and a risk-taking population have permeated the research literature. Drawing upon theoretical perspectives from environmental, sport, organizational and positive psychology, this qualitative study attempts to explore the lived experiences of four male and four female extreme sport athletes. The purpose of this study was to gain insight and understanding into the individuals' attitudes toward the benefits of extreme sport activities for well-being, resilience and pro-environmental behavior.

The Effects of Green Exercise on Physical and Mental Wellbeing: A Systematic Review.

We aimed to examine the evidence for the proposed additive effect of exercise in the presence of nature (green exercise) by systematically reviewing studies that investigated the effects of outdoor or virtual green exercise compared with indoor exercise. Our review updates an earlier review, whose searches were conducted in April 2010. Trials were eligible if: (a) participants in an outdoor or virtual exercise condition were exposed to views of nature (green exercise); (b) green exercise was compared with indoor exercise with no exposure to nature; (c) included an outcome related to physical or mental health; (d) used comparative or crossover trial design.

Pacing during a cross-country mountain bike mass-participation event according to race performance, experience, age and sex.

This study describes pacing strategies adopted in an 86-km mass-participation cross-country marathon mountain bike race (the 'Birkebeinerrittet'). Absolute (km·h) and relative speed (% average race speed) and speed coefficient of variation (%CV) in five race sections (15.1, 31.

Patterns and correlates of physical activity in adult Norwegians: a forecasted evolution up to 2025 based on machine learning approach.

Background: As other westerns countries, a large portion of Norwegians do not meet the minimum recommendations for weekly physical activity (PA). One of the primary targets of the WHO's Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases is to reduce insufficient PA by 10% within 2025. In order to effectively increase the PA levels in the population, an in-depth understanding of PA habits within different sub-groups is therefore vital.