An interventional study of Peer-Supported Exercise with Professional Guidance in Physical Inactivity, Psychological Stress and Mental Well-being, sponsored by Jinan University Guangzhou. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in Hong Kong. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 25 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-01-29.
Sponsored by Jinan University Guangzhou · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
This study explores whether a peer-supported "fitness buddy" program can help first-year university students increase physical activity levels and improve mental well-being. Over 12 weeks, participants will form small exercise groups, choose enjoyable activities (such as jogging, cycling, or yoga), and support each other through shared goals and regular check-ins. A professional coach will offer weekly guidance on exercise safety, injury prevention, and motivation strategies, but the actual workouts will be conducted by the students.
The investigators aim to determine if this peer-based approach helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, while boosting self-esteem and social connectedness. Students in a control group will receive usual campus resources without structured group support. By comparing outcomes at the start, after the 12-week program, and again at follow-up, the study will assess whether peer-led, knowledge-supported exercise can sustainably enhance both physical and mental health during the critical transition into university life.
This longitudinal, parallel-group study focuses on first-year undergraduates (ages 18-25) who are not currently engaged in structured exercise programs. Participants meeting inclusion criteria will be assigned to either a peer-supported exercise group (with weekly professional guidance) or a control group (usual campus resources, no structured group sessions). The peer-support model encourages accountability, shared goal-setting, and regular communication via group messaging tools.
Data collection will include physical activity levels (e.g., International Physical Activity Questionnaire), mental health outcomes (GAD-7, PHQ-9), perceived stress (PSS), self-esteem (RSES), loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale), and social connectedness (SCS). Assessments occur at baseline, 12 weeks (post-intervention), and at a short-term follow-up (Week 16) to evaluate both immediate and sustained effects. All participants will receive instructions on safe exercise practices. Potential risks, such as minor injuries or discomfort discussing mental health, will be minimized through clear guidance, optional campus support resources, and respect for privacy. The findings may help universities develop targeted programs that combine knowledge-based coaching with peer support to enhance students' physical and psychosocial well-being.
368 studies on the registry are indexed under Sedentary Behavior; 165 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 200 is above the median of 70 across 315 interventional studies indexed under Sedentary Behavior.
Browse Sedentary Behavior studies →Jinan University Guangzhou is the lead sponsor of 14 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria
Participants will form peer-support groups of four to six students. They will coordinate weekly exercise sessions (e.g., running, cycling, yoga), share goals, and encourage each other. A professional coach provides knowledge-based guidance on exercise safety, basic nutrition, and motivation strategies, but does not conduct in-person training.
Behavioral: Peer-Supported Exercise with Professional Guidance
Participants will have access to the usual resources available on campus (e.g., sports facilities, counseling services) without any structured peer-support exercise sessions or professional coaching.
Participants will engage in small, peer-supported exercise groups (4-6 individuals) to coordinate weekly sessions (e.g., running, cycling, yoga). A professional coach provides knowledge-based guidance remotely, focusing on safe exercise techniques, injury prevention, basic nutrition, and motivation strategies, but does not conduct in-person training sessions. The aim is to improve adherence to physical activity and enhance mental well-being through peer accountability and evidence-informed coaching.
Change in Physical Activity Levels (IPAQ)
Self-reported physical activity levels will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), capturing frequency, duration, and intensity of exercise. This will help determine whether peer-supported exercise plus professional guidance leads to significant changes in overall activity compared to usual campus resources.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention), and Week 16 (follow-up)
Change in Overall Mental Health and Psychosocial Well-Being
Mental health and psychosocial well-being will be evaluated using multiple standardized questionnaires, including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Social Connectedness Scale (SCS). Composite changes across these measures will be used to assess overall psychosocial functioning over the course of the intervention.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 12 (post-intervention), and Week 16 (follow-up)
Plan to share: Yes — De-identified individual participant data (including demographic information and outcome measures) will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. A data use agreement (DUA) must be signed, and approval from our institutional ethics committee may be required. Data will be made available after publication of the primary findings and for up to 5 years thereafter.
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Started Jan 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Apr 2025, 3 months after the start.
Of 244 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Sedentary Behavior, half reached primary completion within 22 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 9 and three quarters within 43. This study's planned 3 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 247 studies reached it within 22 months; a quarter within 9 and three quarters within 43.
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This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Jan 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Jinan University Guangzhou