For students, regular exercise may help lower risk of depression and anxiety

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 07, 2026

Photo courtesy: OC Today-Dispatch

For students dealing with busy schedules, academic pressure, and changes in routine, staying physically active may help support mental health — and consistency may matter more than intense workouts.

A large Norwegian study found that students who exercised less often were more likely to develop depression, anxiety, or another common mental disorder over the following year.

The study, published in PLOS One, followed 10,460 full-time students aged 18 to 35.

Researchers looked at how often students exercised, how intense their activity was, how long their sessions lasted, and how much total exercise they completed each week.

One year later, the students underwent an assessment for common mental disorders.

Among the different exercise measures studied, frequency showed the most consistent association with mental health.

In simple terms, students may not need to rely on long or exhausting workouts. Regular activity spread throughout the week may be more practical and easier to maintain.

The findings also supported the World Health Organization recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week.

That can be broken into smaller sessions rather than completed all at once.

For students, physical activity can include brisk walking, jogging, cycling, sports, gym workouts, or other forms of movement that raise the heart rate.

Researchers found that students with lower overall activity levels were more likely to meet clinical criteria for anxiety or depression at follow-up.

Some differences were also observed between men and women. Among women, lower exercise intensity was linked to higher risk, while among men, shorter total weekly exercise time appeared to be a stronger factor.

However, the researchers stressed that the study was observational. It cannot prove that exercise directly prevents depression or anxiety, and mental health symptoms themselves can sometimes make it harder for a person to stay active.

Exercise should also not be treated as a replacement for professional mental health care when it is needed.

Still, the findings suggest that making movement a regular part of student life may be one practical way to support overall well-being.

For students, the takeaway is simple: you do not have to exercise harder – starting small and moving regularly may already be a useful step.