Effectiveness of physical activity, mindfulness and mind-body therapies in improving mental health of university students: a systematic review of RCTS.
Laura García-pérez, Maria Elena Atencia-Rodriguez, Mar Cepero-González, Rosario Padial-Ruz
Journal of American College Health April 22, 2025 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2492174 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,325 |
| Population | University students aged 18-25 without severe mental health conditions |
| Interventions | Physical activity Mindfulness Mind-body therapies |
| Duration | 1 to 16 weeks |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Face-to-face interventions Mental health Mind-body therapies Physical activity University students |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key findings | Physical activity, mindfulness, and mind-body therapies significantly reduce anxiety, depression, and stress in university students, with 89% of reviewed studies showing positive effects. |
Abstract
University students face mental health (MH) issues like anxiety, depression, and stress, highlighting the need for effective interventions to improve well-being and academic success. This review examined 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 2000 to 2023, following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 2,325 students, aged 18-25 without severe MH conditions, participated in physical activity (PA) interventions like aerobic and strength training, mindfulness practices such as meditation and mind-body therapies (MBT) such as yoga and Qigong-Baduanjin, over 1 to 16 wk. In 89% of studies, interventions led to significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress, with positive effects across various intervention types and durations. The findings support PA, mindfulness and MBT as effective strategies for enhancing MH among university students, though more research with standardized methods and long-term follow-ups is recommended.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being Diverse adult clinical populations | 2014 | Meta-analysis | n = 3,515 |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Stress Management in Healthy People: A Review and Meta-Analysis Healthy subjects | 2009 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| The psychological effects of meditation: A meta-analysis. Nonclinical groups of adult meditators | 2012 | Meta-analysis | n = 163 |
| Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse Adults with recurrent depression in full or partial remission | 2016 | Meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomized controlled trials | n = 1,258 |
| Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness‐Based Cognitive Therapy – a systematic review of randomized controlled trials | 2011 | Systematic review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Associations of Yoga as a Mind-Body Exercise and Its Components with Spiritual and Subjective Well-Being: Cross-Sectional Evidence for Potential Distress Prevention. Sports January 4, 2026
- Mindfulness and athlete burnout among olympic combat sport athletes: the mediating role of athlete self-compassion and the moderating role of emotion regulation. Frontiers in Psychology September 3, 2026
- Acute effects of ultra-short aerobic and resistance, yoga-based mobility, and mindfulness meditation sessions on mental health: a randomized online study. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 2026
Cites 18
- Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2004
- Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects Psychological Inquiry October 19, 2007
- A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction Annals of Behavioral Medicine February 1, 2007
- Cultivating mindfulness: effects on well‐being Journal of Clinical Psychology May 16, 2008
- A mindfulness-based intervention to increase resilience to stress in university students (the Mindful Student Study): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial The Lancet Public Health December 18, 2017
and 13 more in the library