Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40748900›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

The YoungFitT project: Study protocol for a randomized mixed-methods trial of physical exercise and mind-body interventions, with or without virtual reality, in university students.

Samira Rostami, Adrià Bermudo-Gallaguet, Neus Camins-Vila, Blai Ferrer-Uris, Albert Busquets, Mireia Ribera, Laura Coll, Jaime Gallego Vila, Ramon Oliva Martínez, Mel Slater and 10 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readClinical Trial Protocol
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06406283 (Active Young, Healthy Mind), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06406283 narecruitingnot on this map

Active Young, Healthy Mind: Strategies for Brain Health and Psychological Well-being in Young Adults: A Randomized Mixed-method Study With and Without Virtual Reality (VR) (YoungFitT: Young Fitness Technology)

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of BarcelonaRan2023 to 2026Enrolled219ConditionsUniversity StudentsArmsHigh-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program (MBSR), Qigong
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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

20 authors.

Samira RostamiDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7158-6614
Adrià Bermudo-GallaguetDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Neus Camins-VilaNational Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Blai Ferrer-UrisNational Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Albert BusquetsNational Institute of Physical Education of Catalonia, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Mireia RiberaDepartment of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Laura CollDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Jaime Gallego VilaEvent Lab, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Ramon Oliva MartínezEvent Lab, Faculty of Psychology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Mel SlaterInstitute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Gustavo Garcia DiezNirakara Lab, Extraordinary Chair in Mindfulness and Cognitive Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Nazareth Perales CastellanosNirakara Lab, Extraordinary Chair in Mindfulness and Cognitive Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Mar LarrosaDepartment of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Jofre Bielsa-PascualMetropolitan North Research Support Unit, Jordi Gol i Gurina University Institute Foundation for Primary Health Care Research, Mataró, Spain.
Pere Torán-MontserratMetropolitan North Research Support Unit, Jordi Gol i Gurina University Institute Foundation for Primary Health Care Research, Mataró, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9865-7427
Olga Bruna RabassaFaculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain.
Myriam Guerra-BalicFaculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain.
Kirk I EricksonAdvent Health Research Institute, Neuroscience, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Belinda BrownCentre for Healthy Ageing, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Maria Mataró SerratDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMental health issues among young university students have increased in recent years, driven by academic stress and sedentary lifestyles. The YoungFitT Project aims to explore well-being strategies and the psychobiological mechanisms behind their effects on university students. The project includes two studies: the first evaluates the effectiveness of High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Qigong (QG) on psychological well-being and cognitive functions, and also explores whether socio-demographic, mental (mindful thinking, sleep quality), physical (physical fitness, physical activity), physiological (heart rate variability), and biological (microbiota) factors mediate or moderate intervention effects on university students. Given that immersive virtual reality (VR) can enhance adherence and provide additional benefits, the second study will explore the feasibility and efficacy of HIFT-VR, MBSR-VR, and QG-VR on university students' psychological well-being and cognitive functions.

methodsTwo mixed-methods randomized controlled trials will be conducted. In Study 1, participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups (HIFT, MBSR, QG) using a 1:1:1 ratio. Psychological, cognitive, physical, physiological, and biological measures will be evaluated two weeks before and after the interventions. The interventions include three weekly sessions for 12 weeks. Subsequently, a follow-up will be conducted 12 weeks after the intervention to assess psychological well-being. Study 2 is a proof-of-concept study in which VR interventions will be co-designed with input from university students and professionals. Twelve participants from each study will also complete semi-structured interviews to explore their experiences and perceived impact. DISCUSSION: The proposed interventions are expected to produce differential effects on psychological well-being and cognitive function. VR environments may enhance adherence and offer added benefits over conventional training. Findings will inform effective, personalized strategies for the mental and physical health of university youth.

trial registrationwww.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT06406283; Registration date: 2024/05/06.

Indexed as

ExerciseMind-Body TherapiesStudentsVirtual RealityAdolescentAdultCognitionFemaleHumansMaleMental HealthMindfulnessQigongRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicStress, PsychologicalUniversities

Identifiers

PMID40748900
PMCPMC12316210

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Registered trials

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.