Wang Shimeng, Lu Mingyang, Dong Xiaoxiao, Xu Yifan
Institute of Sports Science, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
Department of Physical Education, Dankook University, Yongyin, South Korea.
PLoS One. 2025 Apr 1;20(4):e0319806. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319806. eCollection 2025.
Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is characterized by its persistence, difficulty in control, and the tendency to focus on negative thoughts and past events. It is recognized as a key factor in the development and maintenance of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. A growing body of research suggests that physical activity-based interventions may effectively reduce RNT. However, the extent of this effect and the mechanisms behind it remain inconsistent across studies.
This systematic review synthesized evidence from 19 peer-reviewed studies retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, and other relevant databases up to December 2024. The objective was to investigate the efficacy of physical activity-based interventions in reducing RNT, with a particular focus on the influence of intervention type, duration, frequency, and intensity.
The review found that physical activity interventions effectively reduce RNT, particularly when combined with psychological training. Combined interventions yielded greater reductions than physical activity alone. Moderate-to-high intensity exercise (30-60 min/session, 3-5 times/week) over an extended period was most effective, likely due to physiological, psychological, and social mechanisms. Single-session interventions showed limited effects, emphasizing the need for sustained engagement. Notably, interventions were more effective in individuals with depression, anxiety, or chronic stress, whereas effects in healthy individuals were smaller and more variable, suggesting that baseline symptomatology enhances intervention benefits.
This review underscores the importance of designing intervention protocols that integrate both physical and psychological components to achieve greater reductions in RNT. The findings provide empirical support for the use of combined interventions involving physical activity and psychological training as an effective strategy for managing RNT. Additionally, future research should prioritize identifying optimal intervention characteristics (e.g., type, frequency, intensity) and addressing methodological limitations, such as the inclusion of diverse participant samples and broader language coverage, to provide more comprehensive insights into effective intervention strategies. These findings have important implications for mental health interventions and offer practical guidance for developing evidence-based approaches to reduce RNT.
重复性消极思维（RNT）的特点是具有持续性、难以控制，且倾向于关注消极想法和过去的事件。它被认为是抑郁症和焦虑症等心理健康问题发生和维持的关键因素。越来越多的研究表明，基于体育活动的干预措施可能有效减少重复性消极思维。然而，这种效果的程度及其背后的机制在各项研究中仍不一致。
本系统综述综合了截至2024年12月从PubMed、科学网及其他相关数据库检索到的19项同行评审研究的证据。目的是研究基于体育活动的干预措施在减少重复性消极思维方面的效果，特别关注干预类型、持续时间、频率和强度的影响。
该综述发现，体育活动干预能有效减少重复性消极思维，尤其是与心理训练相结合时。联合干预比单纯体育活动能带来更大程度的减少。长时间进行中高强度运动（每次30 - 60分钟，每周3 - 5次）最为有效，这可能归因于生理、心理和社会机制。单次干预效果有限，这强调了持续参与的必要性。值得注意的是，干预措施对患有抑郁症、焦虑症或慢性压力的个体更有效，而对健康个体的效果较小且更具变异性，这表明基线症状会增强干预效果。
本综述强调了设计整合身体和心理成分的干预方案以实现更大程度减少重复性消极思维的重要性。研究结果为使用体育活动与心理训练相结合的联合干预作为管理重复性消极思维的有效策略提供了实证支持。此外，未来研究应优先确定最佳干预特征（如类型、频率、强度）并解决方法学局限性，如纳入多样化的参与者样本和更广泛的语言覆盖范围，以便更全面地了解有效干预策略。这些发现对心理健康干预具有重要意义，并为制定基于证据的减少重复性消极思维方法提供了实践指导。
