{
  "abstract": "Background: Traditional Chinese fitness exercises may benefit college students’ mental and physical health, but their comparative effectiveness across exercise modalities and outcomes remains unclear.\n\nObjective: To compare traditional Chinese fitness exercises across mental health, body composition, and cardiorespiratory outcomes in college students.\n\nMethods: Eight databases were searched from inception through September 8, 2026. Eligible RCTs in college students were assessed with RoB 2 and synthesized using Bayesian network meta-analysis.\n\nResults: A total of 69 RCTs involving 6,065 college students were included. For depression, Tai Chi (TC, 95.40%), Yijin Jing (YJJ, 85.40%), and Baduanjin (BDJ, 69.23%) ranked highest, with several significant pairwise comparisons. For anxiety, TC significantly outperformed blank control (BC) and ranked highest (88.82%). Other traditional exercises (OTE, 84.53%), Wuqinxi (WQX, 67.72%), and Liuzijue + physical intervention (LZJ + PI, 65.82%) ranked highest for vital capacity (VC); Xingyiquan (XYQ, 82.89%) and Mawangdui Daoyinshu (MWDY, 82.07%) for VO ₂ max; and OTE (82.52%) and XYQ (78.81%) for the step test index. TC ranked highest for body fat rate (BFR, 86.35%), whereas LZJ (81.27%), WQX (72.38%), and PI (65.44%) ranked highest for body mass index (BMI). Surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) rankings should be interpreted alongside effect sizes and 95% CrIs.\n\nConclusion: Traditional Chinese fitness exercises may provide multidimensional benefits, with comparative advantages varying by outcome. Exercise selection should be outcome-oriented rather than based on a single universally optimal modality.\n\nSystematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view , identifier CRD420261290192.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Wushu College, Henan University , ,",
    "Department of Basic Teaching, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College , ,",
    "Department of Police Physical Education, The National Police University for Criminal Justice , ,"
  ],
  "article_type": "systematic review",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Nan Wang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Hao Hong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Maolin Dong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yaoshu Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Lisha Lan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Junjian Zheng"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/77v99amk19pjp.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1921373",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13690765/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "77v99amk19pjp",
  "issns": [
    "1664-0640"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13690765",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2737|Physical Activity and Health"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221199371",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13690765/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13690765",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-09",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/77v99amk19pjp.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:00Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13690765",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13690765"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:18Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1921373",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1921373/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2737|Physical Activity and Health",
      "subfield": "physiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Network meta-analysis of the effects of traditional Chinese fitness exercises on mental health and physical benefits among college students",
  "title_text": "Network meta-analysis of the effects of traditional Chinese fitness exercises on mental health and physical benefits among college students",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:18Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/77v99amk19pjp",
  "venue": "Frontiers in psychiatry",
  "versions": []
}