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ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an online High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) program on clinical psychological symptoms in higher education students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.Materials and MethodsDuring the lockdown, 30 students aged 18–25 years, who had been screened previously with a cut-off score ≥5 in the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire, were randomly assigned to either the 4-week HIIT program with three sessions per week conducted through online videos, or a no-intervention control group. The primary outcome was the feasibility assessment. The secondary outcome was a psychological self-report with the 21-items Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Assessment and intervention were performed in compliance with social distancing rules.ResultsTwo participants in the HIIT were lost to follow-up, leaving 13 participants vs. 15 in the control group. We observed high adherence (87%) and complete safety for mental and physical status with the HIIT intervention delivered by online videos. The Mann-Whitney test demonstrated a significant (group × time, P-Value = 0.046) reduction of clinical stress symptoms and a trend (group × time, P-Value = 0.08) toward reduction of clinical depression symptoms, both favoring the HIIT group. No significant (group × time, P-Value = 0.118) interaction was found for anxiety symptoms.ConclusionThe online HIIT program was found to be feasible and safe in a clinical sample of young adults, who were experiencing social and physical restrictions due to COVID-19. HIIT reduced stress and depressive symptoms and thus these preliminary results show promise for broader application among higher education students during the present lockdown necessitated by the global COVID-19 health crisis.

Aim The intensity of the most appropriate exercise to use in depressed youth is unclear due to differences in methodology and the lack of evidence documenting the effect of physical activity in children. Therefore, the authors of this study attempted to document the effectiveness of different training intensities to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in pre-teens. Methods The study included twenty-seven, randomly selected pre-adolescents (aged between 9–11 years of age) all of whom had Primary education. The participants were enrolled and, over a 5-week period, were subject to either intensive or low-to-moderate exercise programs four times a week. Psychological self-reports, as well as physical examinations, were conducted before and after such programs in blinded assessments. Psychological effects were considered the primary outcome, whilst physical condition was secondary. Results Four subjects were lost and twenty-three were analyzed. General linear model with 2 criteria revealed significant changes ( p = 0.05) in trait anxiety symptoms over time in the low-to-moderate intensity group (LMIG). Within group changes followed a significant decrease in levels of anxiety (38.82 ± 2.20 to 33.36 ± 2.83, p = 0.004) and depression (10.36 ± 2.83 to 6.73 ± 1.88, p = 0.006) related symptoms amongst those in the LMIG. Interpretation This study indicated that depression and anxiety symptoms were reduced amongst a non-clinical sample of Primary educated pre-adolescents when they were subject to a low-to-moderate exercise program. The program focused on associating movement with pleasure, encouraged positive and non-competitive interactions between participants. Clinical Trial Registration www.ClinicalTrials.gov , identifier NCT02970825, autumn 2016, updated May 7, 2018 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02970825 ).

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In a previous study conducted to assess the impact of physical exercise on the symptoms of depression and anxiety in preadolescents in the school environment, which included a subgroup of participants comprising eleven randomly selected teens (aged 9–11) and all enrolled in primary education, it was immediately observed that one participant referred to as Andy was being bullied and teased, and the teachers were completely unaware of this scenario. All the participants of the study were volunteers, and were subjected to low-to-moderate intensity exercise four times a week for five weeks. Psychological self-assessments and physical examinations were performed before and after the program as a part of a blind assessment. In the intervention sessions, the therapists and participants remained unaware of the individual scores. The sessions included the games that highlighted the feeling of movement, postural control, and slow relay races with balancing, in combination with other cooperative, interactive games focused on fun and social contact rather than focusing on the performance. It was reiterated to the participants that mockery was completely prohibited during the program. After the intervention, a significant decrease was observed in the anxiety levels and depression scores of the participants. The most significant change was observed in the participant who was a victim of bullying during the initial training sessions. No changes were observed in the general atmosphere of the classroom. Bullying is quite common (>10%) and is most often completely overlooked. The present study demonstrated a decrease in the symptoms of depression and anxiety in a non-clinical sample of pre-teens attending elementary school when they completed a low-to-moderate exercise program that combined movement and pleasure and encouraged positive and non-competitive interactions among the participants. The program proved to be particularly beneficial for a bullied individual.