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

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT07139249

Cairo University84 enrolled

Overview

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

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Depression Anxiety University Students Gender Exercise Intensity

Interventions

The high intensity interval trainingOTHER

The training program for students in groups 1 and 2 involves high intensity interval training exercises, conducted three times per week for six weeks. The sessions include a 10-minute warm-up at 40% Heart Rate Reserve, four high-intensity work periods at 85-95% Heart Rate Reserve, three low-intensity work periods at 60-70% Heart Rate Reserve, and a 5- 10 minute cool down at 30% Heart Rate Reserve.

The study moderate continuous trainingOTHER

All students in groups 3\&4 will receive moderate continuous training 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Each session 40 to 50 minutes included a 5 to 10 minute warm-up, fo followed by 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise (treadmill walking exercise) with constant intensity at 60% to 70% Heart Rate Reserve and 5 to 10 minutes cool-down

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 25 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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.

Locations (1)

out-patient clinic, faculty of physical therapy, Horus university

Damietta, Egypt

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

assessment of the severity of depressive symptoms

The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression will be used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms in students across six groups. The 17-item version ranges from 0 to 54, with scores ranging from 0 to 24. Scores between 0 and 6 indicate no depression, while scores between 7 and 17 indicate mild, 18-24 indicate moderate, and 24+ over 24 indicate severe depression. A decrease in scores of at least 50% indicates response, and scores of 7 or less after treatment indicate remission. The 17-item version has adequate reliability and validity.

Time frame: at baseline and after 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

assessment of severity of perceived anxiety symptoms

The Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety is a tool used to assess the severity of perceived anxiety symptoms. It consists of 14 symptom-defined elements, scoring from 0 to 4 (severe). The score range is 0 to 56, with scores above 17/56 indicating mild anxiety, 25-30 indicating moderate anxiety, and \>30 indicating severe anxiety. It has good psychometric properties.

Time frame: at baseline and after 6 weeks

assessment of physical fitness

The Harvard Step Test is a physical fitness index that measures an individual's ability to recover from muscular work and perform muscular tasks. It is performed on a 33 cm bench at 30 steps per minute, with heart rate measured every two seconds. The test is valid for estimating the cardiorespiratory fitness of college students and can be divided into three categories: excellent, good, average, and poor. The physical efficiency index rating ranges from 96 to 115, with the highest rating being excellent for males and the lowest being poor. The test is a reliable tool for assessing physical fitness.

Time frame: at baseline and after 6 weeks

assessment of heart rate during exercise

A pulse oximeter will be used to continuously monitor heart rate during exercise, ensuring the target heart rate (THR) remains within the pre-calculated value. The heart rate will be measured and monitored for all participants using the Karvonen formula. The process involves cleaning the index finger, placing the pulse oximeter on the index, and keeping the pulse for at least a minute until the reading stabilizes.

Central Contacts

Aya Mohamed Hassan Abo Elhassan, Assistant lecturer

CONTACT

01220042634 aaboelhassan@horus.edu.eg

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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