Li Jihai, Zhou Zhidong, Hao Sihai, Zang Liuhong
Institute of Physical Education, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, China.
School of Sports Science, Jishou University, Jishou, 416000, Hunan, China.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2025 May;125(5):1395-1410. doi: 10.1007/s00421-024-05688-9. Epub 2024 Dec 18.
A systematic evaluation and network meta-analysis (NMA) using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to investigate the effects of different exercise intensities and dosages on the mental health of college students.
A systematic search of eight electronic databases of RCTs involving mental health exercise interventions for college students was conducted, which included data from the inception of the databases through July 2024. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality of the literature. Pairwise, network, and dose‒response meta-analyses were conducted via random-effects models to analyze the effects of exercise on college students' mental health.
A total of 48 RCTs (3951 patients) were included. Light, moderate, and vigorous exercise were all significantly effective at reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, whereas very light exercise was only effective at reducing symptoms of depression and stress. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probability ranking revealed that vigorous exercise had the highest probability of being the best intervention intensity to improve depression and stress symptoms, and the best exercise intensity to improve anxiety symptoms was moderate. The minimum threshold for overall exercise intervention for depressive symptoms was 150 METs-min per week, the benefits provided after doses above 1300 METs-min per week were less pronounced, and the predicted maximum significant response dose was 860 METs-min per week, which was the same as the predicted data for moderate exercise.
Very light, light, moderate, and vigorous exercise are all potentially effective exercise intensities for improving the mental health of college students, with no significant difference in effectiveness across the four exercise intensities. SUCRA rankings revealed that vigorous exercise is the most effective intervention for depression and stress and that moderate exercise is the most effective intervention for anxiety. Exercise interventions for depressive symptoms have a low dosage threshold, are simple and easy to administer, and are good treatments for psychological problems in college students.
采用随机对照试验（RCT）进行系统评价和网络荟萃分析（NMA），以研究不同运动强度和运动量对大学生心理健康的影响。
对8个涉及大学生心理健康运动干预的RCT电子数据库进行系统检索，数据涵盖各数据库建库至2024年7月。两名独立评审员评估文献质量。通过随机效应模型进行成对、网络和剂量反应荟萃分析，以分析运动对大学生心理健康的影响。
共纳入48项RCT（3951例患者）。轻度、中度和剧烈运动在减轻抑郁、焦虑和压力症状方面均显著有效，而极轻度运动仅在减轻抑郁和压力症状方面有效。累积排序曲线下面积（SUCRA）概率排名显示，剧烈运动是改善抑郁和压力症状的最佳干预强度的可能性最高，改善焦虑症状的最佳运动强度是中度。抑郁症状总体运动干预的最低阈值为每周150代谢当量分钟，每周剂量超过1300代谢当量分钟后提供的益处不那么明显，预测的最大显著反应剂量为每周860代谢当量分钟，这与中度运动的预测数据相同。
极轻度、轻度、中度和剧烈运动都是改善大学生心理健康的潜在有效运动强度，四种运动强度在有效性上无显著差异。SUCRA排名显示，剧烈运动是治疗抑郁和压力最有效的干预措施，中度运动是治疗焦虑最有效的干预措施。抑郁症状的运动干预剂量阈值低，简单易行，是治疗大学生心理问题的良好方法。
