It’s true what people say – Exercise, eating right, and getting enough sleep can help reduce anxiety in college.
A recent study in Frontiers in Psychology, an open-access journal covering all aspects of psychology, suggests that physical activity, combined with a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition, may help reduce anxiety. The study aimed to provide solutions to anxiety among university students, given that mental health has become a topic of increasingly widespread interest over the past decade. This particular group has always been at high risk of developing mental disorders. Continued Rise Post-COVID-19.
Researchers from Silpakorn University in Thailand surveyed 498 undergraduate students (236 men and 262 women, ages 18-20) from three universities in Fujian province, China. They collected data through surveys focusing on demographics, physical activity levels, lifestyle habits, and dietary nutrition. Each survey asked questions such as how often students engaged in vigorous exercise, their food preferences (bland or salty), and their levels of tension and anxiety in the past two weeks.
This study is one of many aimed at reducing anxiety and mental disorders in college students. College is typically a time of achievement, growth, and personal development, but it also brings new pressures, challenges, and sometimes disappointments and losses. With it come negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. If left unaddressed, college students are more susceptible to obesity, substance abuse, and other conditions with long-term consequences.
While these solutions may not be a panacea, they could be a good way to deal with anxiety at university. Source: AFP
Addressing rising anxiety among college students
a 2024 Report Best Colleges authors Jessica Bryant and Lis Welding compiled information from the American College Health Association. More than 55,000 college students participated in the survey, revealing that 76% experience moderate to severe psychological distress, 36% have been clinically diagnosed with anxiety, and 28% suffer from depression.
Findings revealed that exercise, dietary nutrition, and lifestyle habits all play an important role in reducing anxiety in college students. Physical activity alone accounted for 36.93% of anxiety reduction, and compared to pharmacotherapy, physical activity is the most preferred intervention due to its low cost, high compliance, and minimal side effects.
“Exercise can increase cerebral blood flow, inhibit the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, effectively stimulate the central nervous system, and be effective in reducing anxiety and other negative emotions,” the study states.
Lack of sleep and excessive consumption of salt, caffeine, and alcohol also contribute to anxiety in college students. The study found that a healthy lifestyle and good diet can reduce anxiety by up to 24.9%.
“A healthy diet provides the body with nutrients that play a key role in the synthesis and regulation of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, which regulate mood and reduce anxiety symptoms,” the study states. “A regular daily schedule and sufficient sleep help maintain the body’s biological clock and rhythm, increase the body’s resistance and coping abilities, and reduce stress and anxiety.”
The researchers also found that most college students facing anxiety and other mental health issues choose to self-manage and self-treat rather than seek direct professional counseling, as they may not have the resources or financial means to pay for expensive treatment.
“This makes the conclusion of this study even more significant: this type of conditioning is not only affordable but also an important reference for the self-management and rehabilitation of university students with anxiety disorders,” the study concluded.