Mechanisms of the Impact of Exercise Intervention on College Students' Mental Health: A Longitudinal Experimental Study Using Swimming as an Example

Wen Wang ¹ Linling Yu ² Le Huang ^2* Xing Gao ³

• ¹ Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan Province, China
• ² Woosuk University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
• ³ Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

With the increasing prevalence of mental health issues among college students, effective intervention strategies are essential. This study examines the impact of a 15-week swimming intervention on college students' mental health, focusing on emotional state, social adaptation, and academic stress. A total of 44 students were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group, with psychological assessments conducted before and after the intervention.Results indicate significant improvements in emotional stability (3.85 ± 0.78 vs. 3.52 ± 0.80, P = 0.01) and relaxation (3.82 ± 0.75 vs. 3.25 ± 0.61, P = 0.02) in the experimental group. Social adaptation also improved, with increases in interpersonal harmony (4.14 ± 0.73, P = 0.03) and perceived social support (4.21 ± 0.75, P = 0.04). Additionally, academic stress management improved, with higher academic composure (3.57 ± 0.82 vs. 3.05 ± 0.83, P = 0.02) and goal management ability (3.73 ± 0.78, P = 0.04).These findings highlight swimming as an effective mental health intervention, promoting emotional regulation, social integration, and academic stress management. Future studies should explore its long-term effects and expand the participant sample.