{"product_id":"comparing-mind-body-therapies-for-anxiety-depression-and-sleep-problems-in-college-students","title":"Comparing Mind-Body Therapies for Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Problems in College Students","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis network meta-analysis pooled 27 randomized controlled trials with 2,664 college students to compare five mind-body therapies for anxiety, depression, and sleep quality. Qigong ranked best for improving sleep quality and for reducing depression, while yoga ranked best for reducing anxiety. The authors caution that the small number of included studies limits how confident patients and universities can be in these rankings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch1\u003eComparing Mind-Body Therapies for Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Problems in College Students\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#ddn-key-points\"\u003eKey Points\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#background\"\u003eBackground: Why This Research Matters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#what-are-mbts\"\u003eWhat Are Mind-Body Therapies?\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#methods\"\u003eHow the Researchers Conducted the Study\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#quality\"\u003eHow Study Quality Was Assessed\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#statistics\"\u003eHow the Numbers Were Analyzed\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#studies\"\u003eThe Studies Included\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#consistency\"\u003eChecking That the Comparisons Were Reliable\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#findings\"\u003eKey Findings: Sleep Quality\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#findings-anxiety\"\u003eKey Findings: Anxiety\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#findings-depression\"\u003eKey Findings: Depression\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#rankings\"\u003eHow the Therapies Ranked Overall\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#implications\"\u003eWhat This Means for Patients and Universities\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#limitations\"\u003eLimitations: What the Study Could Not Prove\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#recommendations\"\u003ePractical Recommendations\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#ddn-faq\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#source\"\u003eSource Information\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- ddn:keypoints:start --\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"ddn-key-points\"\u003eKey Points\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn a network meta-analysis of 27 randomized trials with 2,664 college students, Qigong ranked highest for improving sleep quality and reducing depression.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYoga ranked highest for reducing anxiety in the same analysis, with a SUCRA value of 89.0% (a higher value means a greater probability of being among the most effective therapies).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe authors caution that the small number of included studies limits confidence in these rankings, which should be considered provisional.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMost included studies were conducted in China, so the findings may not generalize equally to other countries and student populations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThese non-drug therapies do not replace medical or psychological care for students with serious symptoms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- ddn:keypoints:end --\u003e\n\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"background\"\u003eBackground: Why This Research Matters\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnxiety, depression, and sleep problems are common and closely connected mental health challenges for college students. These problems harm academic progress and overall wellbeing. The authors describe college students as a pivotal group because the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a period when psychological resilience has not yet fully matured.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStudents face multiple overlapping challenges at the same time. These challenges include academic pressure, identity formation, and social adaptation. The authors also name intense academic competition, disruptions from public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and the difficulties of adapting to independent living.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese stressors place college students at high risk for depression and for combined mental health and sleep problems. The consequences are serious. Poor mental health impairs academic performance and quality of life, worsens psychological distress, and may lead to self-destructive tendencies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors highlight a critical contradiction. Demand for mental health support is growing far faster than existing services can meet it. Current interventions lack standardized protocols and cannot serve the large numbers of students who need help. This gap creates an urgent need for safe, accessible, and effective non-drug treatments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMind-body therapies (MBTs) are one promising option. The authors note that MBTs are non-drug, safe, accessible, low in complexity, and require few facilities. These features make MBTs suitable for standardized, large-scale delivery in universities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy contrast, conventional treatments have substantial limitations. Medications carry risks of adverse effects and drug interactions. Psychological counseling faces challenges such as social stigma and limited availability of resources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrevious research shows that MBTs reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in students. MBTs also improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of sleep disorders. However, intervention protocols vary widely across studies. Session frequency, for example, ranged from 5 to 24 sessions, and this variation undermines comparisons between studies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost systematic reviews in this area are rated as having \"critically low\" or \"low\" methodological quality. Primary studies often have a high risk of bias, small sample sizes, and no long-term follow-up. This fragmentation and lack of standardization hinder the translation of research into practical guidance for universities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFew studies have directly compared different types of MBTs against each other. The authors designed this study to fill that gap. The study compares and ranks five common MBTs for three outcomes in college students aged 18 to 29 years: anxiety, depression, and sleep quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"what-are-mbts\"\u003eWhat Are Mind-Body Therapies?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMind-body therapies are practices that emphasize the integration of mental and physical processes. This differs from traditional physical training, which mainly targets physiological outcomes such as fitness or muscle strength. MBTs aim to improve overall health by regulating physical and psychological states together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough MBT practices vary, they share a common mechanism. They build mind-body connections through three combined elements:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecific postures or movements as a foundation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRegulated breathing techniques\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSimultaneous focus and emotional regulation training\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe study examined five specific therapies. Each is defined below as the authors described it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQigong\u003c\/strong\u003e is a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise. It combines slow, flowing movements, controlled breathing, and focused meditative intention.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYoga\u003c\/strong\u003e originates from ancient Indian philosophy. It integrates physical postures, regulated breathing, and meditation or mindfulness techniques.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTai Chi\u003c\/strong\u003e is derived from martial arts. It uses slow, continuous, deliberate circular movements, weight shifting, and coordinated breathing. It is often described as \"meditation in motion\" and requires sustained attention to posture and body awareness.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBaduanjin\u003c\/strong\u003e is a specific form of static qigong. It consists of eight simple, repetitive movements synchronized with deep breathing. It is designed to improve flexibility and regulate the autonomic nervous system (the body's automatic control system for functions such as heart rate and digestion).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYijinjing\u003c\/strong\u003e is another subtype of qigong. It focuses on tendon strengthening and isometric muscle tension (muscle tension without movement). Its movements involve deliberate muscular exertion followed by relaxation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors treated Baduanjin, Yijinjing, and other Qigong practices as separate intervention nodes in the analysis. They did this because these forms have distinct, standardized movement sequences in the included trials. Separating them allowed direct comparison of these commonly researched forms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"methods\"\u003eHow the Researchers Conducted the Study\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis was a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA). A network meta-analysis compares several treatments at once. It combines direct evidence, where two treatments were tested head-to-head, with indirect evidence, where treatments were compared through a common comparator. This approach allows researchers to estimate relative effects among all interventions and to rank their probability of being most effective, even when direct comparisons are missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe review followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO on June 3, 2025, before the review began. The registration number is CRD420251104941, and the authors report no deviation from the protocol.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe researchers searched seven electronic databases: the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang Data, the VIP Database, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The search covered each database from its inception to July 8, 2025. Only studies published in English or Chinese were included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKey search terms included \"students,\" \"mind-body therapies,\" \"sleep,\" \"anxiety,\" and \"depression.\" The researchers added relevant synonyms to expand the search across titles, abstracts, and keywords.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStudies were selected using the PICOS framework, which stands for Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study design. The inclusion criteria were:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePopulation:\u003c\/strong\u003e College students aged 18 to 29 years.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIntervention:\u003c\/strong\u003e MBTs delivered to the experimental group, defined by combined mental focus, controlled breathing, and specific postures or movements. No mandatory rules were set for timing, intensity, or duration. No restrictions were applied to blinding, because complete blinding is extremely difficult for exercise-based interventions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComparison:\u003c\/strong\u003e At least two groups per study. The control group could either do no exercise and continue regular daily activities, or receive a different type of MBT.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutcomes:\u003c\/strong\u003e At least one psychological outcome among depression, anxiety, or sleep quality. When studies reported multiple follow-up assessments, the longest one was used.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe exclusion criteria were duplicate publications, animal studies, case reports, conference abstracts, review articles, inaccessible full texts, and publications not in English or Chinese. The exclusion criteria also included studies where the MBT was combined with other therapies such as medication, dietary, psychological, or educational treatments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTwo authors screened the literature independently and resolved disagreements through discussion. A third party was consulted when consensus could not be reached. The same two-reviewer approach was used for data extraction. Extracted details included first author, publication year, country, sample size, sex, age, intervention measures, and outcome indicators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"quality\"\u003eHow Study Quality Was Assessed\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStudy quality was assessed with two tools. The first was the Cochrane risk of bias tool, version 2 (RoB 2.0). This tool evaluates five domains:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBias from the randomization process\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBias from deviations from the intended interventions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBias from missing outcome data\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBias in measurement of the outcomes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBias in selection of the reported result\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEach study was judged as having low, unclear, or high risk of bias. Blinding was clearly described in all included studies. The high risk of bias was attributed mainly to incomplete outcome data. Two investigators conducted the assessments independently and resolved discrepancies by discussion or by consulting a third reviewer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe second tool was the GRADE framework, which stands for Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. GRADE rates the overall certainty of evidence for each outcome. It considers within-study bias, reporting bias, indirectness, imprecision, heterogeneity, and incoherence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"statistics\"\u003eHow the Numbers Were Analyzed\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe researchers ran a Bayesian network meta-analysis in R version 4.3.2, using a prior fuzzy random effects model. Bayesian analysis is a statistical approach that combines prior assumptions with the observed data to estimate effects. Markov chain Monte Carlo methods were used to obtain pooled estimates and probabilities for each therapy type.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eModel convergence was checked with trajectory plots and Brooks-Gelman-Rubin plots. Continuous outcomes are reported as posterior mean differences (MDs) with 95% credible intervals (CrIs). A credible interval is the Bayesian equivalent of a confidence interval: the range in which the true value is likely to fall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model ran four chains, each completing 50,000 iterations. The first 20,000 iterations served as a burn-in period to remove initialization effects. The remaining iterations were used for estimation. A p value above 0.05 indicated no significant inconsistency between direct and indirect evidence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe researchers used the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) to rank the interventions. SUCRA values range from 0 to 100%. A higher SUCRA value means a greater probability that an intervention is among the most effective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHeterogeneity was measured with the I² statistic. This statistic describes the percentage of total variation across studies that comes from real differences between studies rather than chance. Network and funnel plots were generated with STATA 15.0. In the network plots, each circle represents a therapy type, and the circle size is proportional to the included population size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"studies\"\u003eThe Studies Included\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe initial database search identified 1,767 articles. The researchers excluded 364 duplicates first. They then excluded 1,013 articles based on title and abstract review, and 11 more after full-text reading. In the end, 27 articles met the inclusion criteria.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSample sizes in the 27 studies ranged from 18 to 206 participants. Mean ages ranged from 18.95 years to 27.87 years. Most studies were carried out in China. The remaining studies came from India, Turkey, the United States, and Spain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe included studies evaluated four therapy types: Baduanjin, Tai Chi, Qigong, yoga, and Yijinjing. Intervention duration and frequency varied across studies. All included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a parallel-group design, meaning participants were assigned to separate treatment and comparison groups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSeveral studies illustrate the range of designs. Alkhatib et al. compared Baduanjin (31 participants) with a control group (31 participants) in China and measured sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Özaras compared yoga (39 participants) with a control group (40 participants) in Turkey and measured anxiety with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and depression with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Caldwell et al. compared Tai Chi (28 participants) with a control group (19 participants) in the United States and measured sleep quality with the PSQI and anxiety with the STAI.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOther examples show the variety of outcome measures. Hua et al. compared yoga (66 participants), Tai Chi (60 participants), and a control group (20 participants) in China using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). Li et al. compared Baduanjin (101 participants) with a control group (105 participants) and measured sleep quality with the PSQI and mood with the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Zheng et al. compared Tai Chi (95 participants) with a control group (103 participants) and measured sleep quality with the PSQI.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"consistency\"\u003eChecking That the Comparisons Were Reliable\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA network meta-analysis rests on the assumption of consistency. Consistency means that direct evidence and indirect evidence agree with each other. The researchers tested this by fitting both a consistency model and an inconsistency model for each of the three outcomes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model fit statistics for depression, anxiety, and sleep quality were 96.55, 90.45, and 34.47 in the consistency model. The corresponding values in the inconsistency model were 96.37, 90.44, and 34.51. These values were very close, which suggests the results are supported by consistent evidence in most cases.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHeterogeneity was low. The I² values were 34% for depression, 6% for anxiety, and 4% for sleep quality. The authors describe this as negligible heterogeneity within each network. Because there was no significant inconsistency and heterogeneity was low, the researchers judged the consistency model appropriate for estimating comparative effects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"findings\"\u003eKey Findings: Sleep Quality\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor sleep quality, two therapies performed significantly better than the control group. Baduanjin showed a standardized mean difference (SMD) of −1.29, with a 95% credible interval of −2.67 to −0.02. Qigong showed an SMD of −2.24, with a 95% credible interval of −3.85 to −0.44.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA standardized mean difference expresses the size of an effect in standard units, which allows studies using different measurement scales to be combined. A negative value favors the therapy over the control. Because neither credible interval crosses zero, both results are statistically significant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese findings indicate that, compared with the control group, Baduanjin and Qigong were more effective at promoting sleep quality. The authors describe these two therapies as showing the most notable effects on sleep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"findings-anxiety\"\u003eKey Findings: Anxiety\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor anxiety, yoga was significantly more effective than the control group. Yoga showed an SMD of −3.72, with a 95% credible interval of −6.26 to −1.47. The credible interval does not cross zero, so the improvement is statistically significant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis finding indicates that, compared with the control condition, yoga is more effective at alleviating anxiety in college students. No other therapy showed a statistically significant advantage over the control for anxiety in the pairwise comparisons the authors report.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"findings-depression\"\u003eKey Findings: Depression\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor depression, Qigong was significantly better than the control group. Qigong showed an SMD of −3.9, with a 95% credible interval of −5.76 to −1.37.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eQigong also outperformed two other active therapies. Qigong was significantly more effective than yoga, with an SMD of 3.78 and a 95% credible interval of 0.96 to 5.99. Qigong was also significantly more effective than Baduanjin, with an SMD of 3.35 and a 95% credible interval of 0.03 to 5.27.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese findings suggest that the Qigong group was more effective at alleviating depression than the control group. The findings also suggest that Qigong was more helpful for depression than yoga or Baduanjin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"rankings\"\u003eHow the Therapies Ranked Overall\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe SUCRA rankings summarize the probability that each therapy is among the most effective. The results identified a different leader for each outcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSleep quality:\u003c\/strong\u003e Qigong ranked first, with a SUCRA of 90.5%.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnxiety:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yoga ranked first, with a SUCRA of 89.0%.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDepression:\u003c\/strong\u003e Qigong ranked first, with a SUCRA of 95.0%.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese rankings are SUCRA values: Qigong had a SUCRA of 90.5% for sleep quality, and a higher value means a greater probability of being among the most effective therapies. Yoga had a SUCRA of 89.0% for anxiety, the highest of the therapies compared. Qigong had a SUCRA of 95.0% for depression, the highest of the therapies compared.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"implications\"\u003eWhat This Means for Patients and Universities\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors conclude that Qigong is the optimal intervention for alleviating depression and improving sleep quality. Yoga is the most effective intervention for alleviating anxiety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor students, this means the choice of mind-body therapy may reasonably depend on the main problem. A student whose main concern is anxiety may consider yoga first. A student whose main concerns are low mood or poor sleep may consider Qigong first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors say the findings offer insights for selecting intervention strategies tailored to specific symptoms, and they caution that the results should be interpreted carefully. A single program is unlikely to be the best match for every student's needs. Because MBTs are non-drug, low in complexity, and require few facilities, the authors argue that universities can deliver these therapies at scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors also note that these results address a gap in the literature. Before this study, the relative effectiveness of different MBT types for these three outcomes in college students was unclear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"limitations\"\u003eLimitations: What the Study Could Not Prove\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors state a clear caution: because the number of included studies was limited, further research is needed to improve the reliability of the findings. The rankings should therefore be read as the best current estimate, not a final answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe review also inherited weaknesses from the original trials. The authors note that primary studies in this field often have a high risk of bias, small sample sizes, and no long-term follow-up. In this review, the high risk of bias came mainly from incomplete outcome data.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBlinding was not restricted in the inclusion criteria. Complete blinding is extremely challenging for exercise-based interventions, because participants know whether they are exercising. This means participants' expectations could influence self-reported outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and sleep quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIntervention protocols varied widely across the included studies. Session frequency ranged from 5 to 24 sessions, and duration and intensity also differed. This variation limits how precisely the results can be translated into a standard program.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe evidence base was also geographically concentrated. Most included studies were carried out in China, with the remainder from India, Turkey, the United States, and Spain. The findings may not generalize equally to other countries and student populations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, the authors note that most systematic reviews in this area are rated as having \"critically low\" or \"low\" methodological quality. The GRADE assessment in this review was used to rate the certainty of evidence for each outcome, and the authors summarize these ratings as part of their overall quality evaluation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"recommendations\"\u003ePractical Recommendations\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBased on this study, students and universities can consider the following points. These recommendations reflect the study's findings and stated cautions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMatch the therapy to the main concern.\u003c\/strong\u003e For anxiety, yoga ranked highest. For depression and sleep quality, Qigong ranked highest.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConsider Baduanjin for sleep.\u003c\/strong\u003e Baduanjin also significantly improved sleep quality compared with the control group, with an SMD of −1.29.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTreat rankings as provisional.\u003c\/strong\u003e The authors state that further research is needed because the number of included studies was limited.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExpect variation in programs.\u003c\/strong\u003e Published protocols ranged from 5 to 24 sessions, so no single session schedule is established as standard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiscuss persistent symptoms with a clinician.\u003c\/strong\u003e It does not replace medical or psychological care for students with serious symptoms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- ddn:faq:start --\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"ddn-faq\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat did this analysis find about mind-body therapies for college students?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA network meta-analysis of 27 randomized trials with 2,664 college students compared five mind-body therapies. Qigong ranked highest for improving sleep quality and reducing depression, while yoga ranked highest for reducing anxiety. The authors caution that the small number of included studies limits confidence in these rankings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich therapy might help most with anxiety?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYoga ranked first for reducing anxiety, with a SUCRA value of 89.0%, the highest among the compared therapies. It was significantly more effective than a control group. No other therapy showed a statistically significant advantage over control for anxiety in the reported pairwise comparisons. It was significantly more effective than a control group. No other therapy showed a statistically significant advantage over control for anxiety in the reported pairwise comparisons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich therapy might help most with depression?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQigong ranked first for reducing depression, with a SUCRA value of 95.0%, the highest among the compared therapies. It was significantly better than a control group and also outperformed yoga and Baduanjin. The authors note that further research is needed to confirm these rankings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich therapy might help most with sleep quality?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQigong ranked first for improving sleep quality, with a SUCRA value of 90.5%, the highest among the compared therapies. Baduanjin also significantly improved sleep quality compared with a control group. Both findings come from a limited number of studies, so the rankings are provisional.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does a SUCRA value mean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSUCRA stands for surface under the cumulative ranking curve. It ranges from 0 to 100%, and a higher value means a greater probability that a therapy is among the most effective. For example, Qigong had a SUCRA of 90.5% for sleep quality, the highest among the therapies compared.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat are the limitations of this analysis?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors state that the small number of included studies limits confidence in the rankings. Most studies were conducted in China, so findings may not generalize to other countries. Intervention protocols varied widely, and participants knew whether they were exercising, which could influence self-reported outcomes. Further research is needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIf I'm a college student with anxiety, depression or sleep problems, when should I seek a second opinion about which mind-body therapy to try?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA second opinion is reasonable when the choice of mind-body therapy is unclear or symptoms are serious. Qigong ranked highest for depression and sleep quality, and yoga ranked highest for anxiety, but the number of included studies was limited, so these rankings are a current estimate rather than a final answer. Published programs ranged from 5 to 24 sessions, so no single schedule is standard. The paper does not state how severe the students' symptoms were. Diagnostic Detectives Network provides independent expert second opinions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- ddn:faq:end --\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"source\"\u003eSource Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOriginal article title:\u003c\/strong\u003e Effect of mind-body therapies on anxiety, depression and sleep quality in college students: a network meta-analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors:\u003c\/strong\u003e Zhang D, Yang H, Gao Y, Min S.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor affiliations:\u003c\/strong\u003e Physical Education Department of Hohai University, Nanjing, China; and College of Humanities and Social Sciences of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, China.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication details:\u003c\/strong\u003e Frontiers in Public Health, volume 14, article 1767300. Published 19 March 2026. DOI: 10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1767300. Received 14 December 2025; revised 15 February 2026; accepted 20 February 2026. Open access under a Creative Commons Attribution License.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegistration:\u003c\/strong\u003e PROSPERO, identifier CRD420251104941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding and conflicts:\u003c\/strong\u003e The article text provided does not report funding or conflict-of-interest statements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis patient-friendly article is based on peer-reviewed research. It restructures one published systematic review and network meta-analysis for a general audience. It does not add data from other sources, and it does not replace advice from a qualified health professional.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DiagnosticDetectives.Com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48163198107804,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/diagnosticdetectives.com\/de\/products\/comparing-mind-body-therapies-for-anxiety-depression-and-sleep-problems-in-college-students","provider":"DiagnosticDetectives.Com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}