Exercise for Student Mental Health

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Toronto

Disqualifiers: Physically active, Unsuccessful exercise clearance, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

Duration: 6 weeks

93 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine how physical activity can improve mental health among college and university students. It compares one-on-one training with group workouts to identify which is more effective in reducing anxiety and depression. Participants will work out individually, in small groups, or be placed on a waitlist. Suitable candidates are students who rate their mental health as "poor," "fair," or "good" and are not very physically active. As an unphased trial, this study provides students with a unique opportunity to explore how different workout settings can enhance their mental well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications. It seems focused on physical activity interventions, so it's likely you can continue your medications, but you should confirm with the trial organizers.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

A previous study reported only a few minor side effects for group physical activity programs, suggesting these programs are generally safe for students with mental health challenges. Research has shown that these activities can improve mental health and are well-liked by students. For one-on-one physical activity programs, research also supports their mental health benefits. These programs are considered acceptable and effective for enhancing student well-being. Overall, physical activity, whether in groups or individually, is usually well-tolerated and considered safe for most students. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Exercise for Student Mental Health trial because it explores how structured physical activity interventions can enhance mental well-being among students, offering a proactive approach to mental health care. Unlike traditional treatments like therapy or medication, this trial investigates the impact of exercise delivered in two unique ways: small group sessions led by a trained coach and personalized 1:1 coaching. These methods aim to provide social support and tailored guidance, potentially boosting engagement and effectiveness. The trial could reveal that exercise not only supports mental health but also provides a flexible and accessible alternative to conventional treatments.

What evidence suggests that this trial's physical activity interventions could be effective for student mental health?

Research has shown that exercise can greatly improve mental health for college students. In this trial, participants will receive either group or one-on-one physical activity interventions. Studies indicate that attending group exercise classes 1–3 times a week helps reduce anxiety. Another review found that being active benefits mental health more than inactivity. One-on-one exercise sessions also demonstrated similar benefits for mental health and quality of life. Overall, both group and individual exercises offer promising ways to reduce anxiety and depression in students. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for post-secondary students who are experiencing mental health issues such as feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. Participants will be randomly assigned to either individual physical activity training, group-based training, or a waitlist control group.

Inclusion Criteria

I have felt my mental health was poor, fair, or good in the last month.

Moderately or insufficiently active (< 23 units of weekly leisure activity) based on interpretation scores from the Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire

Fluent in English (e.g., proficiency in reading and verbal expression - written and oral)

Exclusion Criteria

Physically active (24 units or more of weekly leisure activity) based on interpretation scores from the Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire

Unsuccessful exercise clearance using the physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q)

I consider my mental health to be very good or excellent.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants engage in a 6-week physical activity intervention with weekly 1-hour sessions, including 30 minutes of behavior change coaching and 30 minutes of supervised physical activity.

6 weeks

6 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for maintenance effects on mental health and physical activity behavior 1 month after the intervention.

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Waitlist Control

Participants in the waitlist control group are assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up, and offered the intervention after the follow-up period.

10 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Physical Activity Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests the effectiveness of one-on-one versus group-based physical activity interventions on student mental health and well-being. It involves weekly sessions combining behavior change coaching with structured exercise over six weeks.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Group Physical Activity Intervention Delivery Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The group physical activity intervention will receive the physical activity intervention delivered in small groups of 3-8 students led by a trained sport and recreation coach.

Group II: 1:1 Physical Activity Intervention Delivery Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The physical activity intervention will be delivered using 1:1 coaching.

Group III: 10-Week Waitlist Control Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Students who are assigned to the 10-week waitlist control condition will be assessed on primary and secondary outcomes at baseline (T1), at 6-weeks (T2) and at 1-month follow-up (T3). At completion of the 1-month follow-up assessment, students in the wait-list control condition will be offered participation in the physical activity intervention; however, their behaviour will not be monitored or evaluated. Participants will have a choice of engaging in 1:1 physical activity intervention delivery or group-based physical activity intervention delivery.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Toronto

Lead Sponsor

Trials

739

Recruited

1,125,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Stride program, a 12-week structured exercise initiative for university students experiencing mental distress, was found to be feasible and well-received by participants, with positive feedback on its components and delivery.

Participants showed significant improvements in depressive symptoms, physical activity levels, and mental health-related quality of life from pre- to post-program, suggesting that structured exercise can effectively support mental health in higher education settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Stride program: Feasibility and pre-to-post program change of an exercise service for university students experiencing mental distress. Jeftic, I., Furzer, B., Dimmock, JA., et al.[2023]

Physical activity and exercise interventions can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people, with both moderate-to-vigorous and light-intensity activities showing positive effects.

Despite some promising results, the overall evidence base is limited, indicating a need for more robust research to fully understand the impact of physical activity on various mental health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical activity and exercise in youth mental health promotion: a scoping review. Pascoe, M., Bailey, AP., Craike, M., et al.[2022]

The HAPPY Study will assess the effectiveness of a comprehensive intervention in six primary schools in New South Wales over 12 months, focusing on increasing physical activity and improving psychological well-being among students.

The study will utilize various quantitative tools to measure physical activity levels, on-task behavior, and social support, aiming to establish a link between increased physical activity and enhanced student behavior and social skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rationale and protocol paper for the Healthy Active Peaceful Playgrounds for Youth (HAPPY) study. Cotton, W., Dudley, D., Jackson, K., et al.[2018]

Short-term exercise interventions, lasting from a single session to three weeks, can effectively reduce anxiety symptoms and help maintain mood during stressful situations for tertiary students, based on a review of 14 controlled trials.

There is a need for more research on the effects of short-term exercise on depression and other mental health issues, highlighting the importance of universities promoting awareness and access to exercise facilities for students.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Single Session and Short-Term Exercise for Mental Health Promotion in Tertiary Students: A Scoping Review. Pascoe, MC., Bailey, AP., Craike, M., et al.[2021]

Physical activity and exercise interventions, particularly low- to moderate-intensity aerobic exercises, have been shown to positively impact mental health by alleviating depressive symptoms and perceived stress among university students, a group particularly vulnerable to mental disorders.

Acute bouts of exercise, especially yoga, can immediately enhance the perception of bodily signals and improve emotion processing, suggesting that both regular and immediate physical activity can significantly benefit the mental well-being of emerging adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing Mental Health, Well-Being and Active Lifestyles of University Students by Means of Physical Activity and Exercise Research Programs. Herbert, C.[2023]

This scoping review analyzed 16 studies involving young people aged 12-25.9 years with diagnosed mental disorders, highlighting that moderate-to-vigorous exercise is particularly effective in reducing symptoms of depression.

While the evidence for exercise's impact on other mental health issues like anxiety, psychosis, and eating disorders is mixed, the overall findings suggest that exercise interventions could be a promising avenue for improving mental health in young people, warranting further research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise interventions for mental disorders in young people: a scoping review. Pascoe, MC., Bailey, AP., Craike, M., et al.[2023]

A 9-week aerobic exercise program for adolescents in a psychiatric institution led to significant improvements in mental health, including reductions in depression, anxiety, and fatigue, particularly among girls.

All participants showed increased self-efficacy and vigor, suggesting that regular physical activity can enhance both physical fitness and psychological well-being in institutionalized youth.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise in the psychological treatment of adolescents. Brown, SW., Welsh, MC., Labbé, EE., et al.[2004]

In a study of 32,829 Finnish adolescents aged 15-16, engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity weekly was linked to a 17% reduction in chronic stress symptoms, highlighting the mental health benefits of physical activity.

Conversely, more than 30 minutes of daily active school transport was associated with increased odds of depression symptoms and visits to school psychologists, suggesting that while physical activity is beneficial, certain types of active transport may have adverse mental health effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Associations of leisure-time physical activity and active school transport with mental health outcomes: A population-based study. Jussila, JJ., Pulakka, A., Ervasti, J., et al.[2023]

Supervised exercise interventions were found to significantly reduce body mass index (BMI) in overweight and obese adolescents, indicating their effectiveness in managing obesity.

While the overall impact on increasing physical activity levels was small and varied, some interventions also showed positive effects on psychological symptoms, suggesting a multifaceted benefit of exercise programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Systematic review of physical activity and exercise interventions on body mass indices, subsequent physical activity and psychological symptoms in overweight and obese adolescents. Ruotsalainen, H., Kyngäs, H., Tammelin, T., et al.[2018]

Exercise and physical activity have been shown to prevent or delay the onset of various mental disorders and can provide therapeutic benefits, either alone or as a supplement to other treatments.

Despite the promising evidence for exercise interventions in mental health, there is a lack of controlled studies across most disorder groups, indicating a need for more rigorous research in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise and physical activity in mental disorders: clinical and experimental evidence. Zschucke, E., Gaudlitz, K., Ströhle, A.[2021]

The COPE Healthy Lifestyles TEEN intervention, implemented with 31 preadolescents aged 11 to 13, led to significant decreases in anxiety and improvements in physical activity and healthy lifestyle beliefs.

Participants with higher initial levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts showed notable improvements in self-concept and reductions in these mental health issues after completing the COPE program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

COPE: A Pilot Study With Urban-Dwelling Minority Sixth-Grade Youth to Improve Physical Activity and Mental Health Outcomes. Hoying, J., Melnyk, BM.[2019]

A systematic review of 57 studies involving physical activity interventions in adolescents found small-to-moderate positive effects on externalizing problems (d=0.320), internalizing problems (d=0.316), self-concept (d=0.297), and academic achievement (d=0.367).

The effectiveness of these interventions was influenced by various factors, including the type of outcome measured, study design, sample characteristics, and specific intervention methods, highlighting the need for tailored approaches in adolescent mental health care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of physical activity interventions on psychosocial outcomes in adolescents: A meta-analytic review. Spruit, A., Assink, M., van Vugt, E., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10985680/

The effectiveness of physical activity interventions in ... This systematic review suggests that exercise interventions, which are MVIPA, can positively impact the mental health and/or QoL of HE students.

2. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/28367138.2025.2566914

A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Physical ... ABSTRACT. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of physical activity (PA) interventions designed to ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12396654/

A 3-arm parallel randomized controlled trial protocol - PMC This study will examine PA program effectiveness for student mental health and social well-being, as well as implementation processes to offer ...

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-025-07791-z

Physical activity enhances college students' mental health ... This study examines the impact of physical education (PE) classes on students' mental health and investigates the mediating roles of physical activity and ...

5. centerwatch.com centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/NCT06350877/11-and-group-based-exercise-intervention-for-post-secondary-student-mental-health-and-well-being

1:1 and Group-based Exercise Intervention for Post- ... Post-secondary students report alarming rates of feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, anxious, and depressed. To better support student mental ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1755296621000119

On campus physical activity programming for post- ... The current study addressed the acceptability and effectiveness of a physical activity program for student mental health.

7. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK201501/

Physical Activity, Fitness, and Physical Education: Effects on ... The relationship of physical activity and physical fitness to cognitive and brain health and to academic performance is the subject of this chapter. Given that ...

8. who.int who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity

Physical activity Physical activity is beneficial to health and well-being and conversely, physical inactivity increases risk for noncommunicable diseases ...