Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42652331›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2026

Looking up to Look Within: Preliminary Findings of the Restorative Effects of Astronomical Retreats in South Africa.

Dominic Gregory Vertue, Nicole Thomas, Therese Fish, Charles Takalana, Kevin Govender, Sally Ann Macfarlane, Lynn Hendricks

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Dominic Gregory VertueSouth African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
Nicole ThomasCoCREATE Research Equity Hub, Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, Parow 7505, South Africa.ORCID 0009-0008-1164-596X
Therese FishCoCREATE Research Equity Hub, Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, Parow 7505, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-6788-802X
Charles TakalanaSouth African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
Kevin GovenderSouth African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.
Sally Ann MacfarlaneInter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0001-7923-8262
Lynn HendricksCoCREATE Research Equity Hub, Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Department of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus, Parow 7505, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0003-0382-4163

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders continue to rise globally, with South Africa's burden intensified by structural inequalities and a 91% mental health treatment gap, making accessible complementary interventions urgently needed. This exploratory mixed-methods pilot study examined the feasibility and acceptability of astronomy-based mental health support grounded in Attention Restoration Theory and awe research and sought a preliminary signal of change in psychological well-being. Two sequential retreat iterations combined guided naked-eye and telescope-based stargazing with nature immersion: a proof-of-concept peer camp (

Indexed as

AnxietyAstronomyDepressionStress, PsychologicalFemaleHumansPilot ProjectsSouth AfricaAfrican populationsastronomyattention restoration theoryawefeasibility pilotmental healthnature-based interventions

Identifiers

PMID42652331
PMCPMC13513561

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.