Relationship of physical fitness index with depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms among college students
10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025338
- VernacularTitle:大学生体能指数与抑郁焦虑及压力症状的关联
- Author:
WANG Xinzheng, LUO Hongbin, WANG Lulu, YI Guohao, CHEN Junwei, HU Huiwen, LU Sheng, HU Zhenting, WANG Gan, DONG Xiabin
1
Author Information
1. Department of Physical Education, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang Province, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Physical fitness index；Depression；Anxiety；Pressure；Mental health；Regression analysis；Students
- From:
Chinese Journal of School Health
2025;46(11):1615-1620
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
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Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the association between the physical fitness index (PFI) and symptoms of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms among college students, providing a reference for mental health interventions.
Methods:From June to September 2025, combined convenience and cluster random sampling approach was used to administer questionnaire surveys and perform physical fitness tests on 2 712 college students from Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 Items (DASS-21) was used to assess mental health status. Chi square test and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to determine the associations between the PFI and the PFI component indicators with depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms.
Results:The prevalence of depressive, anxiety and stress among college students were 24.26%, 33.22% and 13.68%, respectively. Statistically significant differences in the prevalence of these symptoms were detected across groups differing in sleep quality, physical activity, weekly breakfast frequency, and history of low back or neck pain ( χ 2=9.33-151.83, all P <0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, Logistic regression revealed that the moderate and high PFI groups had significantly reduced risks of depressive and anxiety compared to the low PFI group ( OR =0.73, 0.63; 0.61, 0.72, all P <0.05). Poor speed (50 m run) and lower body strength (standing long jump) emerged as common risk factors affecting anxiety and depressive symptoms in both male and female college students (all P <0.05). Increased muscle strength (sit up for 1 min) in female students reduced the risk of depressive ( OR =0.81), anxiety ( OR =0.85), and stress symptoms ( OR =0.79) (all P <0.05). Enhanced lung capacity in male students decreased the risk of depressive ( OR =0.84) and anxiety symptoms ( OR =0.85) (both P <0.05).
Conclusions:The PFI is negatively correlated with depressive and anxiety symptoms among college students with notable gender differences. Insufficient speed and lower body explosive power represent common risk factors for mental health among male and female college students.
