NCT07139249

Impact of Gender Difference and Exercise Intensities on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among University Students

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 84 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Cairo University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 25 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study was done to investigate the impact of gender differences and exercise intensities on depression and anxiety symptoms among university students

Detailed description

Depression among university students is a growing concern due to factors such as separation from family, transition to a performance-based environment, financial stressors, and uncertainty about postgraduation. An estimated 71% of Egyptian university students have at least minor depression. Depression is associated with lower academic performance and can lead to substance abuse, chronic conditions, and premature mortality. Despite the availability of effective treatment, only one in five university students receives minimally adequate treatment. Physical exercise is suggested as an affordable, low-cost, non-pharmacological treatment for depression and anxiety. Exercise can effectively relieve anxiety symptoms, and a study will evaluate depression and anxiety symptoms based on gender and exercise intensity among university students.

Conditions

• Depression
• Anxiety
• University Students
• Gender
• Exercise Intensity

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	The high intensity interval training	The training program for students in groups 1 and 2 involves high intensity interval training exercises, conducted three times per week for six weeks. The sessions include a 10-minute warm-up at 40% Heart Rate Reserve, four high-intensity work periods at 85-95% Heart Rate Reserve, three low-intensity work periods at 60-70% Heart Rate Reserve, and a 5- 10 minute cool down at 30% Heart Rate Reserve.
OTHER	The study moderate continuous training	All students in groups 3\&4 will receive moderate continuous training 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Each session 40 to 50 minutes included a 5 to 10 minute warm-up, fo followed by 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise (treadmill walking exercise) with constant intensity at 60% to 70% Heart Rate Reserve and 5 to 10 minutes cool-down

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-20
• Primary completion: 2026-01-20
• Completion: 2026-02-01
• First posted: 2025-08-24
• Last updated: 2025-08-24

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Egypt