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Relationship Between Sedentary Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Stress in University Students and Their Life Habits: A Scoping Review with PRISMA Checklist (PRISMA-ScR)
Mariasole Antonietta Guerriero, Anna Dipace, Antonietta Monda, Antonella De Maria, Rita Polito, Giovanni Messina, Marcellino Monda, Marilena di Padova et al.. Brain Sciences, 2025-01-16
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The review analyzed 61 articles and identified a consistent positive correlation between physical activity and stress reduction. Interventions included yoga, tai chi, aerobic exercise and moderate- or high-intensity exercise. A lack of standardized protocols were also evident. Physical activity is an effective means for managing stress and improving mental well-being among university students. An integrated approach combining different forms of exercise and strategies to regulate emotions could provide very effective effects on the mental well-being of students. Universities should propose physical activity programs in several forms to enable students to choose the most appropriate one and keep them active.
Key findings
- The review analyzed 61 articles and identified a consistent positive correlation between physical activity and stress reduction.
- Interventions included yoga, tai chi, aerobic exercise and moderate- or high-intensity exercise.
- A lack of standardized protocols were also evident.
- Physical activity is an effective means for managing stress and improving mental well-being among university students.
- An integrated approach combining different forms of exercise and strategies to regulate emotions could provide very effective effects on the mental well-being of students.
Why it matters
This review is about physical activity, stress and life habits in university students and contains no information on Alzheimer's disease. It reports no findings relevant to treating, curing or preventing dementia.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Prevention →
Study details
- Participants61
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Brain Sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Brain Sciences: journal h-index 115 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 61 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 63 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 21.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 34.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 63 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Pierpaolo Limone: h-index 26 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Naples Federico II: institution h-index 862 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39851445) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Guerriero, M. A., Dipace, A., Monda, A., De Maria, A., Polito, R., Messina, G., et al. (2025). Relationship Between Sedentary Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Stress in University Students and Their Life Habits: A Scoping Review with PRISMA Checklist (PRISMA-ScR). Brain Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15010078
Vancouver
Guerriero MA, Dipace A, Monda A, De Maria A, Polito R, Messina G, et al. Relationship Between Sedentary Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Stress in University Students and Their Life Habits: A Scoping Review with PRISMA Checklist (PRISMA-ScR). Brain Sciences. 2025. doi:10.3390/brainsci15010078. PMID: 39851445.
BibTeX
@article{guerriero2025-39851445,
author = {Guerriero, Mariasole Antonietta and Dipace, Anna and Monda, Antonietta and De Maria, Antonella and Polito, Rita and Messina, Giovanni and Monda, Marcellino and di Padova, Marilena and others},
title = {{Relationship Between Sedentary Lifestyle, Physical Activity and Stress in University Students and Their Life Habits: A Scoping Review with PRISMA Checklist (PRISMA-ScR)}},
journal = {Brain Sciences},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/brainsci15010078},
pmid = {39851445},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15010078}
}
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