Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2024

Open Access 01-12-2024 | Research

Effects of physical fitness on mental health of Chinese college students: across-sectional study

Authors: Shuzhen Ma, Yang Yang, Kim Geok Soh, Hermione Tan

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2024

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The physical and mental health of college students is often mentioned, but there is limited research on a direct relationship between the mental health status of college students and their physical fitness level. This study mainly proves the relationship between Chinese college students’ mental health and physical fitness indicators.

Method

This study collected SCL-90 Scale test results from 5262 students (4012 boys and 1250 girls) through a questionnaire survey and conducted a Sport Quality Test on these students. Statistical software SPSS was applied for differential analysis and logistic regression analysis. Specifically, the differences in sport quality indicators between normal and abnormal mean total scores of psychological tests were analyzed first. Then, the binary logistic regression model was used to explore the impacts of sports quality indicator scores on students’ psychological fitness.

Results

There are differences in the results of physical fitness tests between students with abnormal psychology and students with normal psychology. The four indexes of students’ vital capacity, speed, explosive power of lower limbs, and endurance running are effective in improving students’ psychologically abnormal state, and endurance running and improving vital capacity are the most effective methods to improve students’ psychologically abnormal state. In the physical tests of Chinese college students, the risk of psychological abnormalities was reduced by 9% for every one-point increase in lung capacity and 10.4% for every one-point increase in endurance running performance.

Conclusions

Chinese college students’ physical fitness and mental health are related. The best methods for treating psychological disorders are lung capacity improvement and endurance running. According to the physical test results of Chinese college students, for every 1-point increase in lung capacity and endurance running, the risk of psychological abnormalities decreased by 9% and 10.4%, respectively.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Phillips MR, Zhang J, Shi Q, Song Z, Ding Z, Pang S, et al. Prevalence, treatment, and associated disability of mental disorders in four provinces in China during 2001-05: an epidemiological survey. Lancet. 2009;373(9680):2041–53.PubMedCrossRef
2.
Kang Y-K, Guo W-J, Xu H, Chen Y-H, Li X-J, Tan Z-P, et al. The 6-item Kessler psychological distress scale to survey serious mental illness among Chinese undergraduates: psychometric properties and prevalence estimate. Compr Psychiatry. 2015;63:105–12.PubMedCrossRef
3.
Ghrouz AK, Noohu MM, Dilshad Manzar M, Warren Spence D, BaHammam AS, Pandi-Perumal SR. Physical activity and sleep quality in relation to mental health among college students. Sleep Breath. 2019;23(2):627–34.PubMedCrossRef
4.
Kessler RC, Birnbaum H, Demler O, Falloon IRH, Gagnon E, Guyer M, et al. The prevalence and correlates of nonaffective psychosis in the National Comorbidity Survey replication (NCS-R). Biol Psychiatry. 2005;58(8):668–76.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
5.
Lee S, Tsang A, Ng KL, Ma YL, Guo W, Mak A, et al. Performance of the 6-item Kessler scale for measuring serious mental illness in Hong Kong. Compr Psychiatry. 2012;53(5):584–92.PubMedCrossRef
6.
Carrà G, Sciarini P, Segagni-Lusignani G, Clerici M, Montomoli C, Kessler RC. Do they actually work across borders? Evaluation of two measures of psychological distress as screening instruments in a non Anglo-Saxon country. Eur Psychiatry. 2011;26(2):122–7.PubMedCrossRef
7.
Twenge JM, Gentile B, DeWall CN, Ma D, Lacefield K, Schurtz DR. Birth cohort increases in psychopathology among young americans, 1938–2007: a cross-temporal meta-analysis of the MMPI. Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(2):145–54.PubMedCrossRef
8.
9.
Ohrnberger J, Fichera E, Sutton M. The relationship between physical and mental health: a mediation analysis. Soc Sci Med. 2017;195:42–9.PubMedCrossRef
10.
Holi M, Sammallahti P, Aalberg V. A Finnish validation study of the SCL-90. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 1998;97(1):42–6.PubMedCrossRef
11.
Schmitz N, Hartkamp N, Kiuse J, Franke G, Reister G, Tress W. The symptom check-list-90-R (SCL-90-R): a German validation study. Qual. Life Res. 2000;9:185–93.CrossRef
12.
Hardt J, Gerbershagen HU, Franke P. The symptom check-list, SCL-90-R: its use and characteristics in chronic pain patients. Eur J Pain. 2000;4(2):137–48.PubMedCrossRef
13.
14.
Örgütü DS. Mental health action plan 2013–2020. ISBN 978 92 4. 2013;150602.
15.
Nabi H, Kivimaki M, De Vogli R, Marmot MG, Singh-Manoux A. Positive and negative affect and risk of coronary heart disease: Whitehall II prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2008;337:118.CrossRef
16.
Surtees P, Wainwright N, Luben R, Wareham N, Bingham S, Khaw K-T. Psychological distress, major depressive disorder, and risk of stroke. Neurology. 2008;70(10):788–94.PubMedCrossRef
17.
18.
19.
Sifers SK, Shea DN. Evaluations of girls on the run/girls on track to enhance self-esteem and well-being. J Clin Sport Psychol. 2013;7(1):77–85.CrossRef
20.
Grunseit A, Richards J, Merom D. Running on a high: parkrun and personal well-being. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1–11.CrossRef
21.
Adnan MW, Ssdek R, Mutalib A, et al. Effects of swimming towards mental health in collegiate male adults. Malaysian Appl Biology. 2019;48(2):141–8.
22.
Ortega FB, Ruiz JR, Castillo MJ, Sjöström M. Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: a powerful marker of health. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008;32(1):1–11.PubMedCrossRef
23.
Zhu Z, Yang Y, Kong Z, Zhang Y, Zhuang J. Prevalence of physical fitness in Chinese school-aged children: findings from the 2016 physical activity and fitness in China—the Youth Study. J Sport Health Sci. 2017;6(4):395–403.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
24.
Aguiar AS, Stragier E, da Luz Scheffer D, Remor AP, Oliveira PA, Prediger RD, et al. Effects of exercise on mitochondrial function, neuroplasticity and anxio-depressive behavior of mice. Neuroscience. 2014;271:56–63.PubMedCrossRef
25.
Lopresti AL, Hood SD, Drummond PD. A review of lifestyle factors that contribute to important pathways associated with major depression: Diet, sleep and exercise. J Affect Disord. 2013;148(1):12–27.PubMedCrossRef
26.
Felez-Nobrega M, Bort-Roig J, Ma R, Romano E, Faires M, Stubbs B, et al. Light-intensity physical activity and mental ill health: a systematic review of observational studies in the general population. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021;18(1):123.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
27.
Dyson B, Placek JH, Graber KC, Fisette JL, Rink J, Zhu W, et al. Development of PE metrics elementary assessments for national physical education standard 1. Meas Phys Educ Exerc Sci. 2011;15(2):100–18.CrossRef
28.
Preti A, Carta MG, Petretto DR. Factor structure models of the SCL-90-R: replicability across community samples of adolescents. Psychiat Res. 2019;272:491–8.CrossRef
29.
Yalaki Z, ÇAKIR İ. The evaluation of Psychiatric symptoms with SCL-90-R in Adolescents: cross-sectional study. Turkiye Klinikleri J Pediat. 2022;31(3):133–42.CrossRef
30.
Huang G, Ren Y. Linking technological functions of fitness mobile apps with continuance usage among Chinese users: moderating role of exercise self-efficacy. Comput Hum Behav. 2020;103:151–60.CrossRef
31.
Qin F, Song Y, Nassis GP, Zhao L, Dong Y, Zhao C, et al. Physical activity, screen time, and emotional well-being during the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak in China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(14):5170.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
32.
Fossati C, Torre G, Vasta S, Giombini A, Quaranta F, Papalia R, et al. Physical exercise and mental health: the routes of a reciprocal relation. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(23):12364.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
33.
Jonason PK. An evolutionary psychology perspective on sex differences in exercise behaviors and motivations. J Soc Psychol. 2007;147(1):5–14.PubMedCrossRef
34.
Abd El-Kade SM, Al-Jiffri OH. Exercise alleviates depression related systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Afr Health Sci. 2016;16(4):1078–88.CrossRef
35.
Abd El-Kader SM, Al-Jiffri OH. Aerobic exercise improves quality of life, psychological well-being and systemic inflammation in subjects with Alzheimer’s disease. Afr Health Sci. 2016;16(4):1045–55.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
36.
Anderson E, Shivakumar G. Effects of exercise and physical activity on anxiety. 2013;4:27.
37.
Bartholomew JB, Morrison D, Ciccolo JTJM, si, exercise. Effects of acute exercise on mood and well-being in patients with major depressive disorder. Sports. 2005;37(12):2032–7.
38.
Broman-Fulks JJ, Berman ME, Rabian BA, Webster MJ. Effects of aerobic exercise on anxiety sensitivity. Front Psychiatry. 2004;42(2):125–36.
39.
Chang Y-C, Lu M-C, Hu I-H, Wu W-CI, Hu SC. Effects of different amounts of exercise on preventing depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan. BMJ Open. 2017;7(4):e014256.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
40.
DeBoer LB, Powers MB, Utschig AC, Otto MW, Smits JA. Exploring exercise as an avenue for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Expert Rev Neurother. 2012;12(8):1011–22.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
41.
DiLorenzo TM, Bargman EP, Stucky-Ropp R, Brassington GS, Frensch PA, LaFontaine TJ. Long-term effects of aerobic exercise on psychological outcomes. Prev Med. 1999;28(1):75–85.PubMedCrossRef
42.
Droste SK, Gesing A, Ulbricht S, Müller MB, Linthorst AC, Reul JM. Effects of long-term voluntary exercise on the mouse hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Endocrinology. 2003;144(7):3012–23.PubMedCrossRef
43.
Martinsen EW, Hoffart A, Solberg ØY. Aerobic and non-aerobic forms of exercise in the treatment of anxiety disorders. 1989;5(2):115–20.
44.
Vezina ML, Ruegger RH. The psychology of running: implications for nursing and health. Nurs Forum. 1980;19(12):108–21.PubMedCrossRef
45.
Masters KS, Ogles BM, Jolton JA. The development of an instrument to measure motivation for marathon running: the motivations of marathoners scales (MOMS). Res Q Exerxise Sport. 1993;64(2):134–43.CrossRef
46.
Oswald F, Campbell J, Williamson C, Richards J, Kelly PJ. A scoping review of the relationship between running and mental health. Int J Env Res Pub He. 2020;17(21):8059.CrossRef
47.
Kerr JH, Vlaswinkel E. Self-reported mood and running under natural conditions. Work Stress. 1993;7(2):161–77.CrossRef
48.
Strüder H, Weicker HJ. Physiology and pathophysiology of the serotonergic system and its implications on mental and physical performance. Part I. INT J Sports Med. 2001;22(07):467–81.PubMedCrossRef
49.
Strauss RS, Rodzilsky D, Burack G, Colin MJ. Psychosocial correlates of physical activity in healthy children. J Dev Behav Pediater. 2001;155(8):897–902.
50.
Tsigos C, Chrousos G. Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, neuroendocrine factors and stress. J Psychosom Rees. 2002;53(4):865–71.CrossRef
51.
Goodwin RD. Association between physical activity and mental disorders among adults in the United States. Prev Med. 2003;36(6):698–703.PubMedCrossRef
52.
Frank MG, Frank JLW, Hendricks SE, Burke WJ, Johnson D. Age at onset of major depressive disorder predicts reductions in NK cell number and activity. J Affect Disorders. 2002;71(1–3):159–67.PubMedCrossRef
53.
Paluska SA, Schwenk TL. Physical activity and mental health: current concepts. Sports Med. 2000;29:167–80.PubMedCrossRef
54.
Dunn AL, Trivedi MH, O’Neal HA. Physical activity dose-response effects on outcomes of depression and anxiety. Med Sci Sport Exer. 2001.
55.
Jackson M, Kang M, Furness J, Kemp-Smith K. Aquatic exercise and mental health: a scoping review. Complement Ther Med. 2022;66:102820.PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Effects of physical fitness on mental health of Chinese college students: across-sectional study
Authors
Shuzhen Ma
Yang Yang
Kim Geok Soh
Hermione Tan
Publication date
01-12-2024
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-18097-6

Other articles of this Issue 1/2024

BMC Public Health 1/2024 Go to the issue

Research

A systematic review of second-hand smoking mass media campaigns (2002–2022)

Research

Prevalence of prediabetes and risk of CVD mortality in individuals with prediabetes alone or plus hypertension in Northeast China: insight from a population based cohort study

Research

Using online search activity for earlier detection of gynaecological malignancy

Research

Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward allergic rhinitis among parents in Ningbo, China

Research

Nonpharmacological intervention therapies for dementia: potential break-even intervention price and savings for selected risk factors in the European healthcare system

Research

Landscaping tuberculosis multimorbidity: findings from a cross-sectional study in India