Healthy Pills: A Physical Activity and Meditation Program to Enhance Mental Health and Well-Being in Spanish University Students.
Laura García-pérez, Rosario Padial-Ruz, Mar Cepero-González, José Luis Ubago-Jiménez
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) April 18, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/bs15040549 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 12-week program combining physical activity and meditation improved resilience, reduced depression, and increased sleep duration among Spanish university students. Men experienced greater mood benefits. The quasi-experimental study with 136 students (82 in the intervention group, 54 in the control group) found no major changes in self-esteem, psychological distress, personality traits, or physical activity levels. The results suggest that such interventions can enhance key aspects of mental health, though further research is needed to examine long-term effects and differentiate preventive from therapeutic approaches.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Quasi-experimental study with non-randomized control group and pretest-posttest assessments Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 136 |
| Population | Spanish university students |
| Interventions | Physical activity Meditation |
| Duration | 14 weeks (12-week intervention plus two weeks for evaluations) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Intervention-based study Mental health Physical activity Psychological well-being |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | A 12-week physical activity and meditation intervention significantly improved resilience, reduced depression, and increased sleep duration in university students, with greater mood benefits for men. |
Abstract
(1) Background: University students' mental health (MH) is in crisis due to academic stress, lack of physical activity (PA), and low self-esteem. This study evaluated a 12-week PA and meditation intervention to enhance psychological well-being in Spanish university students. (2) Methods: A quasi-experimental design was used, with a non-randomized control group and pretest-posttest assessments. The study lasted 14 weeks (12 weeks of intervention and two for evaluations). Initially, 149 students were recruited, but the final sample included 136 (82 intervention, 54 control) due to attrition. Participants were selected through convenience sampling, respecting university-established groups. The intervention consisted of six PA sessions (aerobic, cardiovascular, and strength exercises) and six meditation sessions (yoga and mindfulness). Validated questionnaires assessed resilience, psychological distress, self-esteem, mood, personality traits, sedentary behavior, PA levels, and sleep duration. (3) Results: Significant improvements were found in resilience (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.01), and sleep duration (p < 0.05), with greater mood benefits in men. No major changes were observed in other variables. (4) Conclusions: PA- and meditation-based interventions can improve students' MH, particularly in key psychological aspects. Further research should explore long-term effects and refine strategies by distinguishing between preventive and therapeutic approaches.