The Relationship Between Exercise and Mental Health in College Students

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of an exercise program on aspects of wellness in college students. The study explored changes in physical fitness and on self-reports of anxiety and depression symptoms before and after participating in a six-week exercise program at a Midwestern university. The study participants consisted of 53 undergraduate students from activity courses, and 25 undergraduate students from a lecture course. The Burns' Anxiety Inventory, Burns' Depression Inventory, and the Attitudes Towards Exercise Inventory were used for assessment. Quantifiable measures of physical fitness were assessed using anthropometric measures for weight and body composition, and the Rockport walking test was used as a measure of cardiovascular fitness. Results indicated significant differences existed between pre- and post-scores for the treatment group that participated in the six-week exercise program in categories of anxiety, depression, attitudes/beliefs that exercise can improve mental health, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) scores which indicate cardiorespiratory fitness. Non-significant differences were found between pre and post data in the measures of attitudes in the stages of change, body composition and Body Mass Index for the treatment group. In the control group, a significant difference was noted in VO2 max, but no differences were found in all other categories of anxiety, depression, attitudes towards exercise, body fat, and Body Mass Index. Results from this study indicate that an exercise prescription may be used as a tool to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety in college students. Additional studies may confirm significance in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms or seeing changes in body composition while adhering to a regular exercise program