Physical activity, mindfulness, and mind-body therapies such as yoga and Qigong-Baduanjin can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress among university students aged 18 to 25 without severe mental health conditions. A review of 18 randomized controlled trials involving 2,325 students found that in 89% of studies, these interventions led to significant improvements in mental health, regardless of the specific type or duration of the program. The evidence supports these approaches as effective strategies for enhancing well-being in this population, though the authors recommend more research with standardized methods and long-term follow-ups.
A 12-week program combining physical activity and meditation improved resilience, reduced depression, and increased sleep duration among Spanish university students. Men experienced greater mood benefits. The quasi-experimental study with 136 students (82 in the intervention group, 54 in the control group) found no major changes in self-esteem, psychological distress, personality traits, or physical activity levels. The results suggest that such interventions can enhance key aspects of mental health, though further research is needed to examine long-term effects and differentiate preventive from therapeutic approaches.