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Effectiveness of physical activity, mindfulness and mind-body therapies in improving mental health of university students: a systematic review of RCTS.

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Title: Effectiveness of physical activity, mindfulness and mind-body therapies in improving mental health of university students: a systematic review of RCTS.
Authors: García-Pérez, Laura (AUTHOR), Atencia-Rodriguez, Maria Elena (AUTHOR), Cepero-González, Mar (AUTHOR), Padial-Ruz, Rosario (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of American College Health. Apr2026, Vol. 74 Issue 4, p1085-1100. 16p.
Subjects: Treatment of psychological stress, Anxiety treatment, Mental health, Research funding, Psychological distress, Mindfulness, Treatment effectiveness, Descriptive statistics, Tai chi, Psychological well-being, Randomized controlled trials, Rumination (Cognition), Loneliness, Mind & body therapies, Systematic reviews, MEDLINE, Yoga, Intraclass correlation, Meditation, Aerobic exercises, Academic achievement, Psychology of college students, Online information services, Qi gong, Sleep quality, Physical activity, Mental depression, Inter-observer reliability
Geographic Terms: Spain
Abstract: Introduction: 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. Methods: 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. Results: In 89% of studies, interventions led to significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress, with positive effects across various intervention types and durations. Discussion: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of American College Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Effectiveness of physical activity, mindfulness and mind-body therapies in improving mental health of university students: a systematic review of RCTS.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+American+College+Health%22">Journal of American College Health</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 74 Issue 4, p1085-1100. 16p.
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  Data: Introduction: 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. Methods: 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. Results: In 89% of studies, interventions led to significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress, with positive effects across various intervention types and durations. Discussion: 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of American College Health is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=193388690
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/07448481.2025.2492174
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 1085
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Treatment of psychological stress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety treatment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological distress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mindfulness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Treatment effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tai chi
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Randomized controlled trials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rumination (Cognition)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Loneliness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mind & body therapies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Systematic reviews
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: MEDLINE
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      – SubjectFull: Yoga
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intraclass correlation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Meditation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Aerobic exercises
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of college students
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      – SubjectFull: Online information services
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      – SubjectFull: Qi gong
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      – SubjectFull: Sleep quality
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      – SubjectFull: Physical activity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental depression
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Inter-observer reliability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spain
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Effectiveness of physical activity, mindfulness and mind-body therapies in improving mental health of university students: a systematic review of RCTS.
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              Text: Apr2026
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              Y: 2026
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