Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36348349›Full record

SynthesisBMC complementary medicine and therapies2022

Effects of qigong exercise on the physical and mental health of college students: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

Jianping Lin, Yi Fang Gao, Yue Guo, Ming Li, Yuxiang Zhu, Ruoshi You, Shaoqing Chen, Shizhong Wang

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC complementary medicine and therapies, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  5. The Use of Physical Activity in Coping with Test Anxiety Among Students: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
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  15. The Science of Tai Chi andJournal of integrative and complementary medicine · 2025
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jianping Lin *School of Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Yi Fang Gao *School of Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Yue GuoDepartment of Rehabilitation,The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Ming LiSchool of Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Yuxiang ZhuSchool of Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Ruoshi YouDepartment of Rehabilitation,The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Shaoqing ChenCollege of Rehabilitation Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China. chensq@fjtcm.edu.cn.
Shizhong WangSchool of Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China. shzhwang@fjmu.edu.cn.

Funding

General project of National Natural Science Foundation of China 81973924 and 81874501Youth Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China 81904317
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhysical and mental health problems are becoming more serious among college students due to lifestyle changes and increased academic stress. Qigong exercise has been regarded as a potentially effective intervention to improve the physical and mental health of college students.

methodsEleven databases were searched from their respective inception dates to April 2022. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Physical and psychological conditions, including limb muscle strength, flexibility, cardiorespiratory endurance, vital capacity, blood pressure and heart rate, as well as depression, anxiety and mood, were evaluated. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool.

resultsSixteen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Significant improvements in cardiorespiratory endurance (MD = 3.83, 95% CI: 0.99 to 6.67, P = 0.008) and flexibility (MD = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.21 to 4.81, P = 0.001) were observed. We also observed that Qigong exercise significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms (SMD=-0.89, 95% CI: -1.17 to -0.61, P < 0.00001; SMD=-0.78, 95% CI: -1.31 to -0.25, P = 0.004). Nevertheless, no significant effects on muscle strength, vital capacity, blood pressure, heart rate or mood were found.

conclusionQigong exercise was advantageous for college students in terms of improving flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance and alleviating depression and anxiety to some extent. However, due to the limited number of eligible trials and the low methodological quality, more well-designed RCTs are needed in the future.

Indexed as

QigongAnxietyExerciseHumansMental HealthStudentsCollege studentsMental healthPhysical fitnessQigong exercise

Identifiers

PMID36348349
PMCPMC9641907

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.