Skip to content
The Kids Research Institute Australia logo

Exercise enjoyment and depressive symptoms for university students in a mental health service: An intensive repeated measures study

We explored how university students’ mental and physical health changed during a 12-week on-campus exercise program. When students enjoyed exercise more than usual or more than others, they reported better mental and physical health. These findings highlight the importance of prioritising enjoyment of exercise when designing exercise programs for student wellbeing. 

Citation:
Jeftic I, Jackson B, Rebar A, Furzer B, Dimmock J, Budden T, Wright K, Boyd C, Rosenberg M, Sabiston CM, deJonge ML, Simpson A. Exercise enjoyment and depressive symptoms for university students in a mental health service: An intensive repeated measures study. J Appl Sport Psychol. 2026.

Keywords:
Exercise; university students; mental health; depression

Abstract:
We explored how university students’ mental and physical health changed during a 12-week on-campus exercise program. When students enjoyed exercise more than usual or more than others, they reported better mental and physical health. These findings highlight the importance of prioritising enjoyment of exercise when designing exercise programs for student wellbeing.