Mindful movement trials found lower anxiety and depression symptoms in university students
Symptoms favored mindful movement programs, but results varied substantially and the analysis did not identify a best movement type.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Among university students, programs combining mindfulness with movement reduced anxiety and depression symptoms compared with control groups. The review found no statistically clear differences between yoga, tai chi and qigong. However, results varied substantially across studies, and the absence of differences between program types does not establish that they have equal effects.
Results varied considerably between studies, with possible publication bias in the limited tai chi evidence. The abstract does not describe program duration or control care.
What researchers found
Pooled anxiety outcome
Programs versus control groups; assessment timing unreported. Standardized mean difference −0.42 (95% confidence interval −0.52 to −0.31), in standard-deviation units. The negative sign indicates lower symptoms, rather than a percentage change.
What mindful movement means
The review examined structured programs combining mindfulness practice with physical movement. Its question concerned anxiety and depression symptoms in university students, so the findings remain specific to that population and those measured outcomes.
Why results varied
Movement type did not statistically explain the variation across studies. Other program details and participant characteristics remain questions for research; the abstract does not establish which format works best or for whom.
The original publication
Integrating mindfulness and physical activity: a meta-analysis of mindful movement interventions for symptoms of anxiety and depression among university students.
Xu X, Abdullah BB, Samsudin SB et al.
PeerJ · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40620766
- Record checked
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