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

NCT07139249 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Aya-Phd
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 84
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety; University Students; Gender; Exercise Intensity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• assessment of the severity of depressive symptoms

  The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression will be used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms in students across six groups. The 17-item version ranges from 0 to 54, with scores ranging from 0 to 24. Scores between 0 and 6 indicate no depression, while scores between 7 and 17 indicate mild, 18-24 indicate moderate, and 24+ over 24 indicate severe depression. A decrease in scores of at least 50% indicates response, and scores of 7 or less after treatment indicate remission. The 17-item version has adequate reliability and validity.

  at baseline and after 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• assessment of severity of perceived anxiety symptoms

  at baseline and after 6 weeks

• assessment of physical fitness

  at baseline and after 6 weeks

• assessment of heart rate during exercise

  at baseline and after 6 weeks

Study Arms (6)

females with high intensity interval training

EXPERIMENTAL

It will consist of 14 female students; they will be receiving high intensity interval training.

Other: The high intensity interval training

males with high intensity interval training

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

It will consist of 14 male students; they will be receiving high intensity interval training.

Other: The high intensity interval training

females with moderate intensity continuous training.

EXPERIMENTAL

It will consist of 14 female students; they will be receiving moderate intensity continuous training

Other: The study moderate continuous training

males with moderate intensity continuous training.

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

It will consist of 14 male students; they will be receiving moderate intensity continuous training

Other: The study moderate continuous training

The non-exercise females group

NO INTERVENTION

It will consist of 14 female students; they will remain sedentary for the six-weeks intervention period.

The non-exercise males group

NO INTERVENTION

It will consist of 14 male students; they will remain sedentary for the six-weeks intervention period

Interventions

The high intensity interval training OTHER

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.

females with high intensity interval training; males with high intensity interval training

The study moderate continuous training OTHER

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

females with moderate intensity continuous training.; males with moderate intensity continuous training.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being a student in higher education
• Being single
• Age between 18 and 25 years of both sexes
• Accepting the principle of randomization in the trial.
• The body mass index is 18.5-24.9 kg/m².
• Diagnosed by psychiatrist as having a mild to moderate degree of anxiety and depression.
• Having scores of 7-24 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.
• Having scores of 17-30 on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale.

You may not qualify if:

• Neurological history such as illness or head trauma
• Present severe and unstable respiratory disease
• History of heart defect or cardiovascular disease or any other medical conditions prohibiting high-intensity sport or physical activity
• Being professional athlete.
• Involved in regular routine of exercises
• Taking medication for mental health history of any neurological disorders like neuropathy or seizures.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

Study Sites (1)

out-patient clinic, faculty of physical therapy, Horus university

Damietta, Egypt

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Coitus

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders; Sexual Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Aya Mohamed Hassan Abo Elhassan, Assistant lecturer

CONTACT

01220042634; aaboelhassan@horus.edu.eg

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: principal investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 17, 2025
• First Posted: August 24, 2025
• Study Start: August 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: January 20, 2026
• Study Completion: February 1, 2026
• Last Updated: August 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Locations

EG (1)