Impact of Gender Difference and Exercise Intensities on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among University Students

Cairo University (CU)

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: University Students; Depression; Anxiety; Exercise Intensity; Gender

Treatments: Other: The high intensity interval training; Other: The study moderate continuous training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07139249

Aya-Phd

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study was done to investigate the impact of gender differences and exercise intensities on depression and anxiety symptoms among university students

Full description

Depression among university students is a growing concern due to factors such as separation from family, transition to a performance-based environment, financial stressors, and uncertainty about postgraduation. An estimated 71% of Egyptian university students have at least minor depression. Depression is associated with lower academic performance and can lead to substance abuse, chronic conditions, and premature mortality. Despite the availability of effective treatment, only one in five university students receives minimally adequate treatment. Physical exercise is suggested as an affordable, low-cost, non-pharmacological treatment for depression and anxiety. Exercise can effectively relieve anxiety symptoms, and a study will evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms based on gender and exercise intensity among university students.

Enrollment: 84 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being a student in higher education
• Being single
• Age between 18 and 25 years of both sexes
• Accepting the principle of randomization in the trial.
• The body mass index is 18.5-24.9 kg/m².
• Diagnosed by psychiatrist as having a mild to moderate degree of anxiety and depression.
• Having scores of 7-24 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.
• Having scores of 17-30 on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.

Exclusion criteria

• Neurological history such as illness or head trauma
• Present severe and unstable respiratory disease
• History of heart defect or cardiovascular disease or any other medical conditions prohibiting high-intensity sport or physical activity
• Being professional athlete.
• Involved in regular routine of exercises
• Taking medication for mental health history of any neurological disorders like neuropathy or seizures.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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84 participants in 6 patient groups

females with high intensity interval training

Experimental group

Description:

It will consist of 14 female students; they will be receiving high intensity interval training.

Treatment:

Other: The high intensity interval training

males with high intensity interval training

Active Comparator group

Description:

It will consist of 14 male students; they will be receiving high intensity interval training.

Treatment:

Other: The high intensity interval training

females with moderate intensity continuous training.

Experimental group

Description:

It will consist of 14 female students; they will be receiving moderate intensity continuous training

Treatment:

Other: The study moderate continuous training

males with moderate intensity continuous training.

Active Comparator group

Description:

It will consist of 14 male students; they will be receiving moderate intensity continuous training

Treatment:

Other: The study moderate continuous training

The non-exercise females group

No Intervention group

Description:

It will consist of 14 female students; they will remain sedentary for the six-weeks intervention period.

The non-exercise males group

No Intervention group

Description:

It will consist of 14 male students; they will remain sedentary for the six-weeks intervention period