Effect of Sun Tai Chi on the Cardiopulmonary System and Mental Health in University Students

Universidad Católica del Maule56 enrolled

Overview

Currently, university students face physical and mental health issues, which are reflected in low levels of physical activity, a decline in healthy eating behaviors, and a high prevalence of mental health symptoms such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, it is necessary to develop safe, effective, and sustainable interventions that support comprehensive health and provide formative experiences that reinforce the importance of developing healthy lifestyle habits and self-care. In this regard, Tai Chi has been shown to offer physical and mental health benefits. Tai Chi is a low- to moderate-intensity exercise with low joint impact, which facilitates the transition from a sedentary to an active lifestyle. Considering the health problems experienced by university students, it is proposed that a Tai Chi intervention could help produce beneficial effects on both physical and mental health. In this context, the present study aims to implement Tai Chi classes with the objective of determining their effect on the cardiac autonomic system, mental health, and the perception of benefits, facilitators, and barriers among participating university students compared to a control group.

In Chile, there are currently over 1.2 million undergraduate university students who exhibit low levels of physical activity and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. These problems tend to worsen after the first year of higher education, along with the development of unhealthy eating habits and weight gain. In this context, Tai Chi has shown multiple benefits for overall health. Specifically, the Sun style of Tai Chi is characterized by gentle and accessible movements, making it well-suited to the university setting, and has demonstrated positive effects on both physical and mental health. Previous studies indicate that regular practice of Tai Chi may positively influence autonomic cardiac control, measured through heart rate variability (HRV), as well as mental health. However, the available evidence is still limited and heterogeneous. This study aims to evaluate, in university students, the effects of a 12-week Sun Tai Chi program, with 60-minute sessions held twice per week, on the following: * Heart Rate Variability (HRV), as a marker of cardiovascular health and stress, * Mental health, assessed with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - 21 Items (DASS-21 scale), * Participants' qualitative perceptions regarding the program's benefits, barriers, and facilitators. Given the limited research on Tai Chi in university student populations, this study seeks to contribute evidence on its potential comprehensive health benefits in this group.

Study Type

Interventions

Tai Chi (Sun Style)OTHER

The Sun Tai Chi intervention will be conducted by a Sun Tai Chi instructor with 7 years of teaching experience and will take place in an exercise room at the Catholic University of Maule. The intervention will last for 12 weeks, with a frequency of twice per week, and each class will last 60 minutes. Each session will begin with 10 minutes of warm-up exercises, followed by 20 minutes of basic Sun Tai Chi exercises, including lower limb movements, overall body mobility at a slow pace, precise movements of the hands and feet, and proper body alignment. This will be followed by 20 minutes of practice of the basic movement sequence of Sun Tai Chi (Taolú), and will conclude with 5 minutes of meditation and 5 minutes of relaxation exercises.

Health lifestyle educationBEHAVIORAL

The control group will receive guidance on a healthy physical and mental lifestyle.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 29 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Undergraduate university students * Aged 18 to 29 years * Both sexes * Present mental health symptoms assessed by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - 21 Items (DASS-21) questionnaire, according to cutoff points established by Lovibond et al., ranging from mild to severe in any of the subscales of stress (score 15 to 33), anxiety (score 8 to 19), or depression (score 10 to 27). * Report a healthy physical condition suitable for Tai Chi practice (self-reported). Exclusion Criteria: * Engage in a high level of physical activity according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) or have regularly practiced moderate to high intensity physical activity in the last 3 months. * Report chronic illnesses that limit or contraindicate the practice of exercises required in Tai Chi. * Present cardiovascular, pulmonary, or neurological diseases. * Exhibit either no mental health impairment or severe impairment according to cutoff scores established by Lovibond et al. in the DASS-21 questionnaire (stress subscale score equal to or greater than 14 or equal to or less than 37, anxiety subscale score equal to or greater than 7 or equal to or less than 20, depression subscale score equal to or greater than 9 or equal to or less than 28). * Present specific psychiatric diagnoses, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), self-reported during the initial telephone interview. * Consume medications for mental health treatment. * Consume medications or substances that influence cardiac autonomic modulation (e.g., beta-blockers).

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

DASS-21 stress

Stress will be measured using the stress subdomain of the DASS-21, which ranges from 0 to 21 points, with higher scores indicating higher levels of stress.