Stratakis Konstantinos, Todorovic Jovana, Mirkovic Momcilo, Nešić Dejan, Terzić-Šupić Zorica
Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Social Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
Front Sports Act Living. 2025 Aug 22;7:1606002. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2025.1606002. eCollection 2025.
Despite growing evidence supporting the mental health benefits of physical activity (PA), the nature of its relationship with anxiety symptoms remains uncertain in student populations. This study aimed to investigate differences in mean scores on the Zung Anxiety Scale among groups of students with different levels of PA and to determine whether there is a dose-response relationship between PA and anxiety symptoms, taking into account various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and study year.
Cross-sectional data were collected from 1,266 fifth-year medical students at five Serbian universities during two academic years. PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and categorized into three MET-min/week groups: <600, 601-6,000, and >6,000. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for anxiety by PA category, accounting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.
Students engaging in 601-6,000 MET-min/week of PA were less likely to report anxiety symptoms compared to those engaging in less than 600 MET-min/week. No additional benefit was observed among participants exceeding 6,000 MET-min/week, suggesting a plateau effect. Compared to students in the <600 MET-min/week group, those in the 601-6,000 MET-min/week group were less likely to study in Novi Sad and reported an average or good self-rated financial status, but were more likely to consume alcohol. Participants in the >6,000 MET-min/week group were more likely to be male and belong to the 2023-2024 academic year, and less likely to report an average financial status compared to their peers in the <600 MET-min/week group. Female sex was negatively associated with being in the >6,000 MET-min/week group compared to the 601-6,000 MET-min/week group.
The most significant protective benefits against anxiety symptoms were seen in individuals who participated in PA for 601 to 6,000 MET-minutes per week. No additional benefits were observed for PA levels exceeding 6,000 MET-minutes, suggesting a potential plateau effect. These findings emphasize the importance of promoting sustainable PA habits among students. Future research is needed to establish causality and examine the underlying psychophysiological mechanisms in the relationship between PA and mental health.
尽管越来越多的证据支持体育活动（PA）对心理健康有益，但在学生群体中，其与焦虑症状之间关系的本质仍不明确。本研究旨在调查不同PA水平的学生群体在zung焦虑量表上的平均得分差异，并确定PA与焦虑症状之间是否存在剂量反应关系，同时考虑各种社会人口学和生活方式因素以及学年。
在两个学年期间，从塞尔维亚五所大学的1266名五年级医学生中收集横断面数据。使用国际体育活动问卷（IPAQ）评估PA，并将其分为三个MET-分钟/周组：<600、601-6000和>6000。使用zung自评焦虑量表测量焦虑症状。使用逻辑回归估计按PA类别划分的焦虑比值比，同时考虑社会人口学和生活方式因素。
与每周PA低于600 MET-分钟的学生相比，每周进行601-6000 MET-分钟PA的学生报告焦虑症状的可能性较小。在每周超过6000 MET-分钟的参与者中未观察到额外益处，表明存在平台效应。与每周<600 MET-分钟组的学生相比，每周601-6000 MET-分钟组的学生在诺维萨德学习的可能性较小，报告自我评定的财务状况为中等或良好，但饮酒的可能性更大。每周>6000 MET-分钟组的参与者更可能为男性且属于2023-2024学年，与每周<600 MET-分钟组的同龄人相比，报告中等财务状况的可能性较小。与每周601-6000 MET-分钟组相比，女性性别与每周>6000 MET-分钟组呈负相关。
每周进行601至6000 MET-分钟PA的个体对焦虑症状具有最显著的保护益处。对于PA水平超过6000 MET-分钟未观察到额外益处，表明存在潜在的平台效应。这些发现强调了在学生中促进可持续PA习惯的重要性。未来需要开展研究以确定因果关系并检查PA与心理健康之间关系的潜在心理生理机制。
