Effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students' mental health: systematic review and meta-analysis.
Health Promot Int
; 39(3)2024 Jun 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38916148
ABSTRACT
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on undergraduate students' mental health. Seven databases were searched and a total of 59 studies were included. Studies with a comparable control group were meta-analysed, and remaining studies were narratively synthesized. The included studies scored very low GRADE and had a high risk of bias. Meta-analyses indicated physical activity interventions are effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety (nâ
=â
20, standardized mean difference (SMD)â
=â
-0.88, 95% CI [-1.23, -0.52]), depression (nâ
=â
14, SMDâ
=â
-0.73, 95% CI [-1.00, -0.47]) and stress (nâ
=â
10, SMDâ
=â
-0.61, 95% CI [-0.94, -0.28]); however, there was considerable heterogeneity (anxiety, I2â
=â
90.29%; depression I2â
=â
49.66%; stress I2â
=â
86.97%). The narrative synthesis had mixed findings. Only five studies reported being informed by a behavioural change theory and only 30 reported intervention fidelity. Our review provides evidence supporting the potential of physical activity interventions in enhancing the mental health of undergraduate students. More robust intervention design and implementation are required to better understand the effectiveness of PA interventions on mental health outcomes.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Ansiedad
/
Estudiantes
/
Ejercicio Físico
/
Salud Mental
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Health Promot Int
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido