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Aerobic exercise, mindfulness meditation, and stress-reduction in high-stress, college-based young adults: A pilot study

G. Zieff, Lee Stoner, Barnett S. Frank, Susan A Gaylord, Sarah Battle, A. C. Hackney

Journal of American College Health May 25, 2022 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2076103 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Randomized controlled trial (pilot) Pilot study Peer reviewed
Sample size 32
Population High-stress college-based young adults (84.4% female, mean age 20.5 years, mean BMI 23.9 kg/m2)
Intervention Mindfulness meditation
Duration Four-week intervention
Topics Meditation
Key findings Four weeks of aerobic exercise plus mindfulness meditation, and mindfulness meditation alone, both appeared feasible for reducing stress, anxiety, and depression in high-stress college students. Group-by-time interactions were non-significant but described as noteworthy for perceived stress and anxiety/depression, so the authors treat the findings as preliminary.

Abstract

Abstract This pilot study assessed the feasibility and combined effect of aerobic exercise (AE) and mindfulness meditation (MM), compared with MM alone and a control (CON) condition, on stress, anxiety, and depression in high-stress college-based young adults. Thirty-two participants (84.4% F, 20.5 ± 2.7 years, 23.9 ± 5.0 kg/m2) were randomized to a four-week, AE + MM (n = 16), MM (n = 10), or control intervention (n = 6). ANOVA revealed non-significant, but noteworthy group x time interactions (perceived stress: p = 0.09; anxiety/depression: p = 0.07). Both AE + MM and MM seem to be feasible strategies to reduce levels of stress, anxiety and depression in college-based young adults.

Comparable studies

Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment 2003 Randomized controlled trial n = 41
Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2000 Randomized controlled trial n = 145
Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults 2008 Randomized controlled trial n = 139
Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students 2007 Randomized controlled trial n = 40
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients 2004 Randomized controlled trial n = 73

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Meditation Anxiety Depression