Feasibility and acceptability of an environmental volunteering intervention conducted in Malta among adults with obesity and concurrent mental health conditions
Abstract
Environmental volunteering yields co-benefits for human and planetary health and can be embedded into community-based health promotion efforts. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and potential scalability of an environmental volunteering intervention supporting afforestation projects among adults with obesity and mental health conditions in Malta. This multiple single-case intensive longitudinal study enrolled adults with obesity (BMI ⩾30 kg m−2) and mental health conditions into a 3-month volunteering program. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and retention rates. Acceptability was evaluated through attendance logs, semi-structured interviews, and adherence to a measurement protocol using ecological momentary assessments (EMA) and wrist-worn activity monitors. Recruitment proved challenging with a low enrollment rate of 10.8% (11 of 102 contacted), but retention in the intervention among participants was high (8/11: 73%). The intervention was highly acceptable; qualitative feedback revealed positive experiences driven by social connection and a sense of purpose, with time constraints being the main barrier. The measurement protocol was also acceptable, showing strong adherence (92% EMA compliance and 99% step compliance), though some participants (4/11: 36%) found the daily questions repetitive. The environmental volunteering intervention and its intensive measurement protocol are feasible and acceptable for a selected group of adults with obesity with mental health conditions in Malta. High retention signals the intervention’s health promotion potential. However, to become a scalable public health tool, its critical recruitment barriers must be overcome with targeted outreach.
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BibTeX
@article{calleja2026feasibility,
title = {{Feasibility and acceptability of an environmental volunteering intervention conducted in Malta among adults with obesity and concurrent mental health conditions}},
author = {Paul Calleja and Paquito Bernard and Ahmed Jérôme Romain and Pauline Caille and Ujué Fresán and Daniel Cauchi and Guillaume Chevance},
journal = {Environmental Research: Health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1088/2752-5309/ae8689},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05752714v2},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Feasibility and acceptability of an environmental volunteering intervention conducted in Malta among adults with obesity and concurrent mental health conditions
AU - Paul Calleja
AU - Paquito Bernard
AU - Ahmed Jérôme Romain
AU - Pauline Caille
AU - Ujué Fresán
AU - Daniel Cauchi
AU - Guillaume Chevance
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/23
JO - Environmental Research: Health
DO - 10.1088/2752-5309/ae8689
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05752714v2
AB - Environmental volunteering yields co-benefits for human and planetary health and can be embedded into community-based health promotion efforts. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and potential scalability of an environmental volunteering intervention supporting afforestation projects among adults with obesity and mental health conditions in Malta. This multiple single-case intensive longitudinal study enrolled adults with obesity (BMI ⩾30 kg m−2) and mental health conditions into a 3-month volunteering program. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and retention rates. Acceptability was evaluated through attendance logs, semi-structured interviews, and adherence to a measurement protocol using ecological momentary assessments (EMA) and wrist-worn activity monitors. Recruitment proved challenging with a low enrollment rate of 10.8% (11 of 102 contacted), but retention in the intervention among participants was high (8/11: 73%). The intervention was highly acceptable; qualitative feedback revealed positive experiences driven by social connection and a sense of purpose, with time constraints being the main barrier. The measurement protocol was also acceptable, showing strong adherence (92% EMA compliance and 99% step compliance), though some participants (4/11: 36%) found the daily questions repetitive. The environmental volunteering intervention and its intensive measurement protocol are feasible and acceptable for a selected group of adults with obesity with mental health conditions in Malta. High retention signals the intervention’s health promotion potential. However, to become a scalable public health tool, its critical recruitment barriers must be overcome with targeted outreach.
SN - 2752-5309
ER -