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The following is a summary of “PEAK Mood, Mind, and Marks: a pilot study of an intervention to support university students’ mental and cognitive health through physical exercise,” published in the June 2024 issue of Psychiatry by Brown et al.
Regular exercise can boost the mental and cognitive health of university students. The PEAK Mood, Mind, and Marks program (i.e., PEAK) aims to encourage students to exercise 3 or more times a week using neuroscience-based methods.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess how the PEAK program affected exercise habits, mental and cognitive health, and implementation outcomes.
They enrolled 115 students for 12 weeks. Weekly exercise frequency was the primary focus, with secondary measures including time in moderate-vigorous exercise, sedentary behavior, and self-reported mental and cognitive health via online questionnaires. Additionally, 15 students were interviewed to understand engagement and PEAK’s impact. The quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using Paired t-tests, Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests, and template analysis.
The results showed that, on average, 48.4% of students engaged in the recommended frequency of 3 or more exercise sessions per week but declined by the end of PEAK. Sedentary behavior dropped, while moderate-vigorous exercise increased among non-exercisers. Mental well-being improved, stress and loneliness reduced, and university belongingness improved—no significant changes in psychological distress. Students reported enhanced concentration, memory, and productivity. Of all the students, 68% engaged with PEAK, finding it helpful for exercise motivation.
Investigators concluded that students were open to exercise programs for mental and cognitive health. Though exercise frequency dipped, it was likely an underestimation. Students appreciated the neuroscience-based approach and suggested improvements like better digital platforms and cultural inclusivity.
Source: frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1379396/full
