Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39835364›Full record

ArticleBrain and behavior2025

The Pathway Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels and Depressive Symptoms in University Students Mediated by Cognitive Flexibility.

Fen Yu, Shuqi Jia, Qin Liu, Zhaohui Guo, Sen Li, Xing Wang, Pan Li

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Article in Brain and behavior, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Fen YuSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5034-5686
Shuqi JiaSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Qin LiuSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Zhaohui GuoSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Sen LiSchool of Physical Education and Health, Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, Shanghai, China.
Xing WangSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.
Pan LiSchool of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.

Funding

The work was supported by Shanghai Key Lab of Human Performance 11DZ2261100This study has been approved by Shanghai Educational Science Research Projects C2023112
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo explore the mediating pathway of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms among university students.

methodsA cross-sectional design was used to survey 2537 university students using the Physical Activity Rating Scale-3, Patients' Health Questionnaire, and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. Data analysis was conducted using independent samples t-test, chi-square test, correlation analysis, one-way ANOVA, and mediation analysis.

resultsA statistically significant negative correlation exists between the intensity of physical activity and depression symptom scores (r = -0.104, p < 0.01). The intensity of physical activity demonstrates a statistically significant positive correlation with controllability (r = 0.109, p < 0.01). A marked negative correlation is observed between depressive symptoms and controllability scores (r = -0.367, p < 0.01). The total effect of physical activity intensity on depressive symptoms was quantified as -0.3542 (95% CI: -0.5439 to -0.1645). The direct effect was found to be -0.2199 (95% CI: -0.3981, -0.0417), while the mediating effect of controllability was calculated to be -0.1343 (95% CI: -0.2145 to -0.0630).

conclusionIncreased engagement in physical activity among university students is associated with a reduction in their depressive symptom scores. Controllability serves as a mediating factor in the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms among university students.

Indexed as

CognitionDepressionExecutive FunctionExerciseStudentsAdolescentAdultCognitive FlexibilityCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSurveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesYoung Adultcognitive flexibilitydepressive symptomsphysical activity level

Identifiers

PMID39835364
PMCPMC11747677

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.