Effects of Music, Massage, Exercise, or Acupuncture in the Treatment of Depression Among College Students: A Network Meta-Analysis

Abstract

To assess the therapeutic impacts of exercise, massage, and music interventions on college students experiencing depression by employing a mesh meta-analysis approach. This research intends to offer valuable insights to aid in the development of non-pharmaceutical treatment strategies for depression. Methods: We conducted a thorough search across various databases including Cochrane, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang to explore the effects of music, massage, aerobic exercise, fitness Qigong, yoga, tai chi, ball games, strength training, dance, whole body vibration training, and high-intensity interval training on the treatment of depression in college students. The search period was from January 1, 2023, which marks the establishment of each database. Subsequently, a mesh meta-analysis was performed using the "Stata 15.1" software, incorporating outcome indicators from 24 included literature comprising a total of 1458 patients. Results: Based on the ranking of the optimal intervention effects of various non-pharmaceutical methods, the order, from highest to lowest probability, was as follows: high-intensity interval training (96%), yoga (94.90%), dance (78.30%), music (73.30%), ball games (62.50%), strength training (51.70%), aerobic training (45.30%), tai chi (35.40%), vibration training (27.30%), massage (20.10%), qigong (14.30%), and no intervention (1.00%). This ranking aligns closely with the findings obtained from pairwise comparisons between different interventions. Conclusion: High-intensity interval training is likely to yield the most effective therapeutic results for college students with depression. In the pairwise comparison of different interventions, High-intensity interval training is also better than most interventions. However, to establish its intervention effect more conclusively, further validation through additional high-quality randomized controlled trials is necessary.

Music-based therapeutic interventions for medical school students with emotional regulation and mental health: a pre-post cohort study

“…Depression and anxiety are prevalent mental health challenges among college students, with global statistics ranking them fourth and sixth, respectively, in the major burdens faced by individuals aged 10–24 years (Global Burden of Disease Study and Injuries, 2020 ). These disorders significantly contribute to self-harm and injury, particularly among adolescents and young adults (Li et al, 2023 ). Notably, research indicates that depression is a primary emotional concern for college students, particularly those in university settings (Pratt and Brody, 2014 ; Rotenstein et al, 2016 ).…”

“…Notably, research indicates that depression is a primary emotional concern for college students, particularly those in university settings (Pratt and Brody, 2014 ; Rotenstein et al, 2016 ). The prevalence of common mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, has been on the rise among college students in recent years (Lattie et al, 2019 ; Li et al, 2023 ). Notably, medical school students, due to the prolonged duration required for acquiring knowledge and skills in the field of medicine, face heightened levels of mental and physical stress (Adams, 2004 ; O'Rourke et al, 2010 ; Quek et al, 2019 ; Zeng et al, 2019 ).…”