WAYA – A qualitative study investigating how young people affected by cancer experience and describe their relationship with nature, with the aim of understanding how it may have changed after participating in the programme intervention
In the last decades, there has been an increased interest in interacting with nature as an health promotion strategy. In the WAYA program, we have systematically developed and intervention so support the development of health and wellbeing among you people affected by cancer www.miun.se/waya2
Contribute to cancer research at Mid Sweden University
Are you an ambitious student who would like to contribute to our research on nature, rest and recreation, and their effects on the health of adolescents and young adults affected by cancer?
We are offering 1–2 students the opportunity to use qualitative data from our WAYA-2 study for analysis as part of a master’s thesis in public health (thesis work during spring 2027).
This sub-study focuses on how previous WAYA participants experience and describe their relationship with nature, with the aim of understanding how it may have changed as a result of participating in the programme.
The data were generated through individual interviews with participants in the WAYA project’s nature-based programme, conducted approximately one year after their participation (autumn 2026).
Several smaller and larger sub-studies are being conducted within the WAYA project. The overall aim of WAYA is to investigate, through a full-scale randomised controlled trial (RCT), the effects of the programme on perceived well-being and health. The participants are 150 young cancer survivors aged 16–39, who were randomly assigned either to the nature-based programme (WAYA) or to a holiday programme.
The participants interviewed for this sub-study (19 people) took part in WAYA’s holiday programme during the summer/autumn of 2025.
More general information about our study can be found here: www.miun.se/waya2
We are looking for motivated students who would like to write their thesis in English and who are interested in contributing as co-authors to future scientific publications. One focus of the sub-study is the challenges and needs that participants experience in their everyday lives, and how, for example, experiences of nature, physical activity and other activities in natural environments affect their ability to cope with these challenges, as well as their health and well-being
Sustainability goals
Project information
Project duration
261101-271231
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Sounds interesting?
In that case you're more than welcome to submit your interest in participating in the project!
Tell us which programme and which year you are studying. Motivate your participation and describe why you are interested in the project. Also include your cellphone number such that we can easily reach you. Your information will not be stored.