Effects of Tabata training on physical fitness, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in middle school students: an experimental study

Middle school is an important period for physical and mental development. Tabata training may offer a practical approach for improving physical fitness and mental health. The present study examined the effects of an 8-week age-adapted Tabata-style high-intensity interval training with equal-duration conventional moderate-intensity training in 52 male eighth-grade students assigned by intact class (26 per group). Training was performed three times per week. Analysis using a 2 × 2 repeated-measures ANOVA identified significant interactions between group and time for the 1000-m run, vital capacity, plank hold, standing long jump, quadrant jump, triangular obstacle run, and anxiety scores (all P < 0.05), with greater improvements in the experimental group. The 50-m run and depression scores improved over time without significant group × time interactions. Sit-and-reach performance improved only in the control group, while trunk rotation did not change significantly. Compared with conventional training, age-adapted Tabata-style training showed relative advantages for endurance, strength, agility, and anxiety symptoms, but no additional benefit for speed, flexibility, or depressive symptoms.