Students on post-secondary campuses require effective mental health support; this study evaluates the success of on-campus physical activity programs with such a goal. While physical activity is an evidence-informed approach to improving mental health, little research highlights the characteristics of recreation programs on university and college campuses that are effective in increasing mental wellness among students.
A 6-week physical activity program was created for students seeking mental health support. The program was tailored to meet each participant’s needs through one-on-one interaction with “approachable” personal trainers. Measuring the effectiveness of the program was done using a pretest-posttest design with frequent self-assessments completed by participants. Self assessments pertained to the participant’s changes in distress, anxiety, and depression. The results of the study showed that the physical activity program was effective in decreasing these symptoms.
The results of the program suggest that implementing organized physical activity programs to post-secondary campuses (with the primary goal of reducing symptoms of mental illness in students) will have a positive effect.
Citation:
deJonge, M. L., Jain, S., Faulkner, G. E., & Sabiston, C. M. (2021). On campus physical activity programming for post-secondary student mental health: Examining effectiveness and acceptability. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 20. https://doi
org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1016/j.mhpa.2021.100391
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