The Effects of Tai Chi and Qigong Exercise on Psychological Status in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Adolescent mental health interventions: a narrative review of the positive effects of physical activity and implementation strategies

Introduction

The psychological well-being of adolescents is a global concern due to increasing societal pressures and mental health issues. Physical activity is known to enhance physical health and has potential benefits for mental health, including reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, boosting self-esteem, and improving social skills. This narrative review explores how physical activity can serve as an intervention to help adolescents manage psychological stress and prevent mental health issues.

Methods

An extensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus. Keywords included "adolescent mental health," "physical activity," "psychological intervention," "types of exercise," "anxiety," "depression," "self-esteem," "social skills," and "emotional regulation." Studies were included based on relevance, peer-reviewed status, and involvement of adolescent populations. Data were extracted and analyzed qualitatively, focusing on the psychological impacts of different types of physical activity. Sixty one articles were eventually included.

Results and conclusion

The review identified multiple studies highlighting the positive effects of various physical activities on adolescent mental health. Aerobic exercises were found to improve mood and cognitive function, strength training reduced depressive symptoms and increased self-efficacy, team sports enhanced social skills and a sense of community, and mind-body practices like yoga and tai chi improved stress management and emotional regulation. The findings suggest that physical activity can play a significant role in promoting adolescent mental health. Implementation strategies in school and community settings, including integrating physical activity into school curricula, offering diverse activity options, training professional instructors, encouraging family and community involvement, and regular monitoring and evaluation, are recommended. Future research should address limitations such as sample diversity and long-term effects. This narrative review underscores the importance of physical activity in enhancing adolescent mental health. Effective implementation strategies and multi-sector collaboration are essential for maximizing the benefits of physical activity interventions.

Stress reduction through taiji: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

In light of the mounting prevalence of stress in contemporary society and the growing interest in stress reduction methods, this review investigates the potential of taiji as a viable strategy for alleviating stress.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched up to April 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials of taiji. Studies in both patients and healthy populations were considered. They had to provide a measure of perceived stress and include a no treatment or placebo control group. Data were extracted by two reviewers. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated for perceived stress, biological stress markers, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL). Meta-regression analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Eleven trials with a total of 1323 patients comparing taiji to no intervention met the inclusion criteria. The included studies varied strongly with regard to patient characteristics, taiji intervention, and methodological quality. The overall SMD for perceived stress was significant at -0.41 (95% confidence interval, CI, -0.63 to -0.19; I2 = 63%). Exclusion of studies with less than 100 participants yielded a diminished SMD at -0.26 (95% CI, -0.45 to -0.06). The SMD for perceived stress at follow-up was significant (-0.25, 95% CI -0.46 to -0.05). Secondary outcomes highlighted improvements in anxiety and physical QoL, while depression, mental QoL, and biological stress markers remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Results underscore taiji's potential in mitigating perceived stress in both patients and healthy populations, paralleled by enhancements in depressive symptoms, anxiety levels, and physical QoL.

Interventions for psychiatric disorders among university students: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Background

Mental disorders are considered to be the main reason for the increase of the disease burden. College students seem to be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of stress, which makes them more at risk of suffering from mental disorders. This umbrella review aimed to evaluate the credibility of published evidence regarding the effects of interventions on mental disorders among university students.

Methods

To identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the effects of interventions on mental disorders in the university student population, extensive searches were carried out in databases including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database, spanning from inception to July 21, 2023. Subsequently, a thorough reanalysis of crucial parameters such as summary effect estimates, 95 % confidence intervals, heterogeneity I2 statistic, 95 % prediction intervals, small-study effects, and excess significance bias was performed for each meta-analysis found.

Results

Nineteen articles involving 74 meta-analyses were included. Our grading of the current evidence showed that interventions based on exercise, Cognitive-behavioural Intervention (CBI), mindfulness-based interventions (MBI), and other interventions like mood and anxiety interventions (MAI) were effective whereas exercise intervention had the highest effect size for both depression and anxiety among university students. However, the credibility of the evidence was weak for most studies. Besides, suggestive evidence was observed for the positive effects of CBI on sleep disturbance(SMD: -0.603, 95 % CI: -0.916, -0.290; P-random effects<0.01) and MAI on anxiety (Hedges'g = -0.198, 95 % CI: -0.302, -0.094; P-random effects<0.01).

Conclusion

Based on our findings, it appears that exercise interventions, CBI, and MAI have the potential to alleviate symptoms related to mental disorders. Despite the overall weak credibility of the evidence and the strength of the associations, these interventions offer a promising avenue for further exploration and research in the future. More high-quality randomized controlled trials should be taken into account to verify the effects of these interventions on various mental disorders.

Effect of Tai Chi on Young Adults with Subthreshold Depression via a Stress-Reward Complex: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Subthreshold depression is a highly prevalent mood disorder in young adults. Mind-body exercises, such as Tai Chi, have been adopted as interventions for clinical depressive symptoms. However, the possible effect and underlying mechanism of Tai Chi on subthreshold depression of young individuals remain unclear. This randomized controlled study aimed to evaluate the effects of Tai Chi training and tested the combined stress and reward circuitry model for subthreshold depression.

RESULTS

A total of 103 participants completed this trial, with 49 in the 12-week 24-style Tai Chi group and 54 participants in control group. Our results showed significantly lower scores on depressive symptoms (P = 0.002) and anxiety symptoms (P = 0.009) and higher scores on quality of life (P = 0.002) after Tai Chi training. There were significant reductions in salivary cortisol levels (P = 0.007) and putamen gray matter volume (P < 0.001) in the Tai Chi group. The changes in cortisol levels and putamen gray matter volume had direct (bootstrapping confidence interval [- 0.91, - 0.11]) and indirect effects (bootstrapping confidence interval [- 0.65, - 0.19]) on the changes induced by Tai Chi training on depressive symptoms, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The stress-reward complex results indicated an interaction between lowering stress levels and increasing reward circuitry activity associated with the alleviation of depressive symptoms among participants. The 12-week Tai Chi training was effective in improving the symptoms and quality of life of young adults with subthreshold depression. Trial Registration Chinese Registry of Clinical Trials (Registration Number: ChiCTR1900028289, Registered December 12, 2019).

Effects of qigong exercise on the physical and mental health of college students: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

Background

Physical and mental health problems are becoming more serious among college students due to lifestyle changes and increased academic stress. Qigong exercise has been regarded as a potentially effective intervention to improve the physical and mental health of college students.

Methods

Eleven databases were searched from their respective inception dates to April 2022. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Physical and psychological conditions, including limb muscle strength, flexibility, cardiorespiratory endurance, vital capacity, blood pressure and heart rate, as well as depression, anxiety and mood, were evaluated. The risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration tool.

Results

Sixteen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. Significant improvements in cardiorespiratory endurance (MD = 3.83, 95% CI: 0.99 to 6.67, P = 0.008) and flexibility (MD = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.21 to 4.81, P = 0.001) were observed. We also observed that Qigong exercise significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms (SMD=-0.89, 95% CI: -1.17 to -0.61, P < 0.00001; SMD=-0.78, 95% CI: -1.31 to -0.25, P = 0.004). Nevertheless, no significant effects on muscle strength, vital capacity, blood pressure, heart rate or mood were found.

Conclusion

Qigong exercise was advantageous for college students in terms of improving flexibility and cardiorespiratory endurance and alleviating depression and anxiety to some extent. However, due to the limited number of eligible trials and the low methodological quality, more well-designed RCTs are needed in the future.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03760-5.