Preliminary effects and feasibility of a school-based regular aerobic exercise intervention on PTSD-related symptoms among college students: a single-group pre-post study.

The 21-day aerobic exercise intervention demonstrated 100% completion rate among recruited participants.

• All 47 participants completed the 21-day intervention with no dropouts.
• Participants were recruited using convenience sampling from a comprehensive university in Sichuan, China in August 2025.
• Inclusion criterion was elevated PTSD symptoms at baseline.
• The intervention was operationalized as a '21-Day Exercise Check-In Activity' with 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily for 3 weeks.

Significant pre- to post-intervention improvements were observed in PTSD symptoms as measured by the PCL-5.

• PTSD symptoms were assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) before and after the intervention.
• 57.45% of participants fell below the PTSD clinical cutoff after the intervention.
• 87.23% of participants demonstrated reliable change in PTSD symptoms.
• The study used a single-group pre-test/post-test design without a control group.

Significant pre- to post-intervention improvements were observed in anxiety symptoms.

• Anxiety was assessed using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) at baseline and post-intervention.
• Improvements in resilience were significantly associated with reductions in anxiety symptoms in exploratory change-score analyses.
• The intervention consisted of 30 minutes of daily aerobic exercise for 21 days.

Significant pre- to post-intervention improvements were observed in depression symptoms.

• Depression was assessed using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) at baseline and post-intervention.
• Improvements in resilience were not significantly associated with reductions in depression symptoms in exploratory change-score analyses.
• This dissociation distinguished depression from anxiety and PTSD in terms of its relationship with resilience change.

Significant pre- to post-intervention improvements were observed in psychological resilience.

• Psychological resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) before and after the intervention.
• Exploratory change-score analyses indicated that improvements in resilience were significantly associated with reductions in anxiety and PTSD symptoms.
• Improvements in resilience were not significantly associated with reductions in depression symptoms.
• These findings suggest resilience may be a mediating mechanism for anxiety and PTSD symptom reduction but not depression.

College students are identified as a high-risk group for PTSD, and existing non-pharmacological interventions have notable limitations.

• The study was motivated by the need to validate regular aerobic exercise as a mental health promotion strategy in real campus environments.
• The study sought to determine aerobic exercise's specific effects on reducing anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms, as well as its role in enhancing psychological resilience.
• The study was conducted at a comprehensive university in Sichuan, China.

The study design has significant methodological limitations that preclude causal inferences about effectiveness.

• The study employed a single-group pre-test/post-test design with no randomization and no control group.
• Participants were recruited via convenience sampling.
• The authors state that 'causal inferences regarding effectiveness and underlying mechanisms cannot be made.'
• Randomized controlled trials with longer follow-up periods and objective activity measures are recommended as next steps.