{"id":10533,"date":"2025-04-10T07:02:38","date_gmt":"2025-04-10T06:02:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/downtoearthproject.org.uk\/?page_id=10533"},"modified":"2025-04-10T10:18:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T09:18:11","slug":"the-great-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/downtoearthproject.org.uk\/cy\/research-impact\/published-research\/the-great-outdoors\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Outdoors"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-2 vc_col-lg-8 vc_col-md-offset-1 vc_col-md-10″][vc_custom_heading text=”The Great Outdoors: An Outdoor Wellbeing Group for People Living with a Congenital Heart Condition” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:60|text_align:left|line_height:1.1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”70″][image_with_animation image_url=”9060″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”center” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” css=”.vc_custom_1744263624719{background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.06) !important;*background-color: rgb(0,0,0) !important;}”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Rebecca Wiliams, Patient Representative, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Dr Anna McCulloch, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, South Wales Adult Congenital Heart Disease Service, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]Individuals living with a Congenital Heart Condition (CHC) are at significant increased risk of developing mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Experiencing depression is a risk factor for illness severity. Promoting good mental health amongst this population can reduce the health inequalities experienced by this cohort and can improve their overall health and quality of life. This outdoor wellbeing group sought to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of people living with CHC\u2019s in South Wales.<\/p>\n

The project took place at The Health Meadow at University Hospital, Llandough. The group learned to care for the meadow, developed peer relationships and discussed helpful ways of coping with their health condition. Activities were adjusted according to need to ensure inclusivity. Group members reported improvements in wellbeing, selfconfidence, social connection and in attitudes towards fitness and exercise. There are many factors that contribute to the psychologicalsocial difficulties faced by individuals living with a CHC. Living with a CHC can disrupt normal developmental stages and can have a significant negative impact on educational attainment, the development of friendships and on feelings of self-efficacy and hopefulness (1). Such challenges can be made harder by the impact of worsening symptoms and uncertainty about health outcomes.<\/p>\n

Psychological wellbeing, social connection and engagement in movement and exercise are predictors of health outcomes in CHC\u2019s. For example, experiencing depression or anxiety is associated with poorer health outcomes (1). We describe an 18-month collaboration between our South Wales Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) team, Cardiff and Vale Health Charity and Down to Earth. Group members attended weekly, four-hour sessions based in The Health Meadow at University Hospital, Llandough. The sessions involved learning how to care for the meadow and learning new skills. Members had access to support from the clinical psychologist and an ACHD nurse. Group based interventions encourage peer support and can reduce feelings of isolation.<\/p>\n

Access to nature improves wellbeing (3). Engaging in meaning activities and learning new skills encourages wellbeing and self-efficacy (4). Qualitative and quantitative feedback demonstrated improvements in: Peer relationships and feelings of social connection that were maintained outside of the group setting.<\/p>\n