Key result
Physical exercise is linked to lower depression among college students, driven primarily by self-identity.
Why the study?
Depression is a common psychological problem threatening college students' physical and mental health, but the association between physical exercise and depression and the mediating roles of self-efficacy and self-identity remained to be examined.
Does physical exercise reduce depression in college students?
Population
2,021 college students from 8 universities in Henan Province
Comparison
Physical exercise levels and their association with depression
Design
Cross-sectional questionnaire survey
Authors
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Exercise associated with lower depression in college students via mediators; hypothesis-generating, requires prospective confirmation.
Cross-Sectional (n=2,021)
Yes
Does physical exercise reduce depression in college students?
p-value: p=<0.01
Physical exercise is negatively associated with depression among college students, a relationship partially mediated by self-efficacy and self-identity.
Zhang et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Depression (n=2,021). Physical exercise was evaluated on Association between physical exercise and depression (p=<0.01). Physical exercise was negatively related to depression among college students (p<0.01), with self-efficacy and self-identity mediating 6.73% and 32.29% of the total association, respectively.