Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39692765›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of applied physiology2025

Optimal intensity and dose of exercise to improve university students' mental health: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of 48 randomized controlled trials.

Jihai Li, Zhidong Zhou, Sihai Hao, Liuhong Zang

Abstract readNetwork Meta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of applied physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 3 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

10 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Trial
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  6. Article
  7. 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

4 authors.

Jihai LiInstitute of Physical Education, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, China.
Zhidong ZhouSchool of Sports Science, Jishou University, Jishou, 416000, Hunan, China.
Sihai HaoInstitute of Physical Education, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, China.
Liuhong ZangInstitute of Physical Education, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, Xinjiang, China. zlh751225@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-0443-2359

Funding

National Social Science Fund of China 22BTY021
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundA 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.

methodsA 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.

resultsA 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.

conclusionVery 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.

Indexed as

ExerciseExercise TherapyMental HealthStress, PsychologicalStudentsAnxietyDepressionHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicUniversitiesAnxietyDepressionDose analysisExerciseMental healthNetwork meta-analysisUniversity students

Identifiers

PMID39692765

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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.