A MULTIDIMENSIONAL PATH ANALYSIS OF STRESS-RELIEF FITNESS EXERCISE INTERVENTIONS ON COLLEGE STUDENTS’ DEPRESSION BASED ON SEM

Abstract

To examine the effect of stress-relief fitness exercises on reducing depressive symptoms among college students, and to explore the underlying psychological, physiological, and social support mechanisms.A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 110 college students whose Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores were ≥53. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=55) and a control group (n=55). The intervention group practiced stress-relief fitness exercises three times per week for 10 weeks, while the control group maintained their usual routine. The SDS, heart rate variability (HRV), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to assess outcomes before and after the intervention. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the multidimensional intervention pathways.  Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in SDS scores (p<0.01), marked improvement in HRV indicators (p<0.01), and higher social support scores (p<0.01). SEM analysis indicated that psychological regulation was the main intervention pathway, with physiological and social support mechanisms also playing supportive roles. Stress-relief fitness exercises provide an integrated intervention combining psychological, physiological, and social support effects. They can effectively reduce depressive symptoms in college students and are suitable for broader use in campus mental health programs.