Consistency Over Intensity: The Mental Health Benefits of an 8-Week Hatha Yoga Intervention for Women

Effectiveness of an 8-Week Meditation Intervention on Stress, Anxiety, and Sleep Quality in Older Adults: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Background: Sleep disturbance, stress, and anxiety are highly prevalent among older adults and adversely affect physical health, cognitive function, and quality of life. Meditation is a safe, low-cost, non-pharmacological intervention that may improve these interrelated outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the effect of an 8-week structured meditation program on perceived stress, anxiety, and sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults and to compare the relative efficacy of two meditation-based intervention protocols (Group A and Group B). Methods: In this prospective interventional study, 58 older adults aged ≥60 years with mild-to-moderate stress, anxiety, or sleep disturbance were allocated to two intervention arms (Group A, n = 29; Group B, n = 29) and completed an 8-week structured meditation program involving guided sessions of 30–45 minutes. Stress, anxiety, and sleep quality were assessed before and after the intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Within-group changes were analysed using paired-samples t-tests, between-group differences using independent-samples t-tests, and effect magnitude using Cohen’s d. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Groups were comparable for age (p = 0.598) and baseline PSS (p = 0.636); however, Group B had significantly higher baseline GAI scores (p = 0.001) and Group A had significantly higher baseline PSQI scores (p = 0.045). Both groups showed statistically significant and very large reductions in PSS (Group A: 44.4%, d = 2.55; Group B: 47.0%, d = 3.34; both p < 0.001) and PSQI (Group A: 40.2%, d = 2.14; Group B: 46.5%, d = 2.03; both p < 0.001), with no significant between-group difference in the magnitude of change (PSS p = 0.286; PSQI p = 0.464). For GAI, only Group B showed a statistically significant within-group reduction (46.5%, d = 1.24, p < 0.001), whereas Group A’s change was non-significant (14.7%, d = 0.24, p = 0.207); the between-group difference significantly favored Group B (p < 0.001, d = 1.01). Conclusion: An 8-week meditation-based intervention produced clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in perceived stress and sleep quality in older adults, irrespective of protocol. The Group B protocol additionally conferred a significantly superior anxiolytic effect, suggesting that meditation strategies should be selected according to the predominant symptom profile, particularly when anxiety is a primary concern.

Psychological correlates of yoga practice: a cross-sectional survey of depression, anxiety, stress, mindfulness, and well-being

Depression as a Predictor of Fatigue: A Psychological Model within the Framework of Physical Activity and Body Composition

Fatigue is a frequent problem that disrupts academic and social functioning in young adults. High levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students further exacerbate this issue. While physical activity helps reduce psychological symptoms, its effect on fatigue remains uncertain. Biological factors such as muscle mass and metabolic rate may provide partial protection against physical fatigue. This study explored the relationships between fatigue, depression, anxiety, and stress in university students, alongside the role of physical activity and body composition. A cross-sectional design was applied with 578 university students in Türkiye. Fatigue was assessed with the Chalder Fatigue Scale, psychological symptoms with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, and physical activity with the Physical Activity Scale-2. Data were collected face to face using a standardized protocol. Analyses included Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression, and independent samples t-tests. Findings showed that despite relatively high activity levels, students reported moderate fatigue. Fatigue was positively correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress, together explaining 36.3% of the variance, with depression showing the strongest association. Physical activity showed no direct association with fatigue, whereas skeletal muscle mass and basal metabolic rate were negatively related to physical fatigue. Female students reported higher fatigue, anxiety, and stress, while males were more active. In conclusion, fatigue in university students is primarily linked to psychological factors. No significant relationship was found between physical activity levels and fatigue, whereas fatigue was strongly associated with psychological symptoms and biological indicators. These results highlight the importance of integrating psychological support with biological health strategies to improve student well-being.   Cite this article as: Akıl, M., Güngör, M. G., & Tokay, B. (2026). Depression as a predictor of fatigue: A psychological model within the framework of physical activity and body composition. Research in Sports Science, 16, 0107, 2026. doi: 10.5152/rss.2026.25107.  

Enhancing quality of life: the role of pilates in alleviating depression and anxiety among women: A randomized controlled trial

Purpose: Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health disorders, significantly impairing individuals' quality of life. This study investigates the effects of Pilates exercises on depression, anxiety, and overall well-being in women over 50 years of age experiencing depression.Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted, involving 60 women diagnosed with depression by a psychiatrist. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n=30), which engaged in 60-minute Pilates sessions three times weekly for eight weeks, or a control group (n=30), which maintained their usual routines. Depression, anxiety, and quality of life were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Questionnaire (BAQ), and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), respectively. ANOVA analysis was employed for data analysis.Results: Results indicated that Pilates training significantly reduced depression (p=0.001) and improved both physical and mental aspects of quality of life (p=0.002). However, no significant effect was observed on anxiety levels (p=0.051).Conclusion: A significant inverse relationship was found between anxiety and quality of life, as well as a direct correlation between depression and anxiety. These findings suggest that Pilates exercises may serve as an effective intervention for reducing depression and enhancing the quality of life in women suffering from depression.

Immediate and Sustained Improvements in Mood and Stress Associated With Yuna, an AI-Powered Digital Mental Health Intervention: Real-World Retrospective Study

Abstract Background AI-powered digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) are a promising approach to address barriers to traditional mental health care. However, real-world evidence of their immediate and sustained benefits remains limited. Objective The purpose of this real-world, retrospective study is to explore patterns of perceived mood and stress change associated with the use of Yuna, an AI-powered DMHI. We aimed to (1) describe user demographics and session characteristics, (2) quantify the magnitude of mood and stress change within sessions and over time with continued Yuna use, and (3) identify session-level factors associated with changes in mood and stress. Methods Adult Yuna users (aged ≥18 y) who initiated at least one session with the Yuna app were included in this study. Users self-reported mood and stress on Visual Analog Scales (VASs; range 0‐1) before and after sessions. Linear mixed effects models were used to explore the immediate, within-session improvements in mood and stress, and the sustained, between-session changes in symptoms of mood and stress. Linear mixed effects models were also used to examine session-level predictors of within-session improvements, including baseline symptom severity, session duration, total number of unique therapeutic approaches used, safety guardrail activation, and gender. Results A total of 5549 real-world users were included (2901/5549, 52.3% female; mean sessions 3.44, SD 9.83). Users demonstrated significant, immediate within-session improvements in both mood (d=0.55) and stress (d=0.56), with sensitivity analyses yielding consistent results. Between-session analyses revealed gradual improvements in baseline mood (d=−0.009) and stress (d=−0.011). Baseline symptom severity was the strongest predictor of immediate, within-session change (mood: β=.118, SE 0.003; P<.001; stress: β=.131, SE 0.004; P<.001), followed by session duration (mood: β=.027, SE 0.003; P=.003; stress: β=.029, SE 0.003; P<.001). A greater number of unique therapeutic approaches used was associated with smaller improvements in both outcomes (mood: β=−0.007, SE 0.003; P=.043; stress: β=-0.011, SE 0.003; P=.002). Conclusions Use of Yuna, an AI-powered DMHI, was associated with perceived within-session improvements in mood and stress, with preliminary evidence of gradual improvements in mood and stress across repeated sessions. However, the absence of a control group and potential selection bias preclude causal conclusions. These findings offer promising, real-world evidence for AI-powered DMHIs as accessible, on-demand support tools. Prospective, controlled designs are needed to establish causal effects and evaluate the sustainability of observed improvements.

Long-Term Changes in Physical Activity Prescription Competences of Mental Health Professionals Following a Brief Educational Intervention

Introduction Enhancing mental health professionals’ knowledge and confidence in prescribing physical activity (PA) is a priority, given its benefits for mental health. This study evaluated whether a brief, three-hour educational workshop could improve PA-related knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and clinical behaviors. Methods Eighty mental health professionals (58% women; mean age 38.9 ± 10.7 years; mean experience 14.5 ± 10.0 years) with mainly a physiotherapy (33.8%), education (15.0%), and psychology (13.8%) background participated. Outcomes were measured using the Exercise in Mental Illness Questionnaire – Health Professionals Version at pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and 12-month follow-up. Results At baseline, 83.8% of participants (67/80) reported recommending PA. Among those completing both baseline and 12-month assessments (n = 44), the proportion never recommending PA decreased significantly from 29.5% to 2.3%. Knowledge improved from 2.1 ± 1.3 to 3.7 ± 0.7 (d = 1.26, p <0.001) immediately post-workshop and remained high at 12 months (d = 1.15, p <0.001). Confidence rose from 2.4 ± 1.3 to 3.6 ± 0.7 (d = 0.97, p <0.001) and remained elevated (d = 1.04, p <0.001). Assessment of patient activity increased from 4.5% to 44.2% at 12 months, and participants increasingly provided personalized, preference-based PA guidance. Discussion A single three-hour workshop was associated with large improvements in knowledge, confidence, and PA-related clinical behaviors sustained at 12 months. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the single-group design, reliance on self-reported outcomes, and substantial attrition at follow-up (44/80 completers). Brief educational interventions may represent a feasible approach to enhancing mental health professionals’ competencies in promoting physical activity. Future research should examine impacts on patient PA engagement.