Mind–body exercise and mental health in college students: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Abstract
BackgroundCollege student populations show elevated psychological difficulties. Mind–body exercise, a non-pharmacological intervention, has attracted increasing attention, but direct comparisons of effectiveness across modalities remain limited. This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the comparative efficacy of mindfulness-based exercise, Tai Chi, Baduanjin, yoga, and combined mind–body interventions on core mental health outcomes in college students.MethodsFollowing PRISMA-NMA guidelines, eligible RCTs were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool, and analyses were conducted in R with anxiety, depression, and stress as primary outcomes (SMD, 95% CrI).ResultsTwenty-four RCTs were included, covering five single interventions and one combined intervention (mindfulness-based exercise + Tai Chi). Network meta-analysis showed that for reducing anxiety, Baduanjin (SMD = −0.53, 95% CrI: −0.96 to −0.10), mindfulness-based exercise (SMD = −0.70, −0.98 to −0.44), Tai Chi (SMD = −0.61, −1.22 to −0.07), yoga (SMD = −0.47, −0.85 to −0.11), and the combined intervention (SMD = −0.99, −2.00 to −0.01) were significantly effective. For depression, Baduanjin (SMD = −0.75, −1.10 to −0.36) and mindfulness-based exercise (SMD = −0.55, −0.82 to −0.29) were superior. For stress, mindfulness-based exercise (SMD = −0.67, −0.91 to −0.47) and yoga (SMD = −0.32, −0.61 to −0.05) were effective, with mindfulness-based exercise outperforming yoga. No intervention significantly improved mental well-being or sleep quality compared with controls. However, this lack of statistically significant benefit does not rule out genuine intervention effects, and these findings remain inconclusive given the limited evidence.ConclusionMind–body exercises exert differential effects. Baduanjin may relieve anxiety and depression, while mindfulness-based exercise is beneficial for reducing stress.
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BibTeX
@article{li2026mindbody,
title = {{Mind–body exercise and mental health in college students: a systematic review and network meta-analysis}},
author = {Yang Li and Lingli Jia and Guohui Liu},
journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1946398},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1946398},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mind–body exercise and mental health in college students: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
AU - Yang Li
AU - Lingli Jia
AU - Guohui Liu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1946398
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1946398
AB - BackgroundCollege student populations show elevated psychological difficulties. Mind–body exercise, a non-pharmacological intervention, has attracted increasing attention, but direct comparisons of effectiveness across modalities remain limited. This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the comparative efficacy of mindfulness-based exercise, Tai Chi, Baduanjin, yoga, and combined mind–body interventions on core mental health outcomes in college students.MethodsFollowing PRISMA-NMA guidelines, eligible RCTs were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool, and analyses were conducted in R with anxiety, depression, and stress as primary outcomes (SMD, 95% CrI).ResultsTwenty-four RCTs were included, covering five single interventions and one combined intervention (mindfulness-based exercise + Tai Chi). Network meta-analysis showed that for reducing anxiety, Baduanjin (SMD = −0.53, 95% CrI: −0.96 to −0.10), mindfulness-based exercise (SMD = −0.70, −0.98 to −0.44), Tai Chi (SMD = −0.61, −1.22 to −0.07), yoga (SMD = −0.47, −0.85 to −0.11), and the combined intervention (SMD = −0.99, −2.00 to −0.01) were significantly effective. For depression, Baduanjin (SMD = −0.75, −1.10 to −0.36) and mindfulness-based exercise (SMD = −0.55, −0.82 to −0.29) were superior. For stress, mindfulness-based exercise (SMD = −0.67, −0.91 to −0.47) and yoga (SMD = −0.32, −0.61 to −0.05) were effective, with mindfulness-based exercise outperforming yoga. No intervention significantly improved mental well-being or sleep quality compared with controls. However, this lack of statistically significant benefit does not rule out genuine intervention effects, and these findings remain inconclusive given the limited evidence.ConclusionMind–body exercises exert differential effects. Baduanjin may relieve anxiety and depression, while mindfulness-based exercise is beneficial for reducing stress.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -