Effect of Sun Tai Chi on the Cardiopulmonary System and Mental Health in University Students
NCT ID: NCT07044154
Last Updated: 2025-06-29
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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NOT_YET_RECRUITING
NA
56 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2025-07-01
2026-01-31
Brief Summary
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In this regard, Tai Chi has been shown to offer physical and mental health benefits. Tai Chi is a low- to moderate-intensity exercise with low joint impact, which facilitates the transition from a sedentary to an active lifestyle.
Considering the health problems experienced by university students, it is proposed that a Tai Chi intervention could help produce beneficial effects on both physical and mental health. In this context, the present study aims to implement Tai Chi classes with the objective of determining their effect on the cardiac autonomic system, mental health, and the perception of benefits, facilitators, and barriers among participating university students compared to a control group.
Detailed Description
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In this context, Tai Chi has shown multiple benefits for overall health. Specifically, the Sun style of Tai Chi is characterized by gentle and accessible movements, making it well-suited to the university setting, and has demonstrated positive effects on both physical and mental health.
Previous studies indicate that regular practice of Tai Chi may positively influence autonomic cardiac control, measured through heart rate variability (HRV), as well as mental health. However, the available evidence is still limited and heterogeneous.
This study aims to evaluate, in university students, the effects of a 12-week Sun Tai Chi program, with 60-minute sessions held twice per week, on the following:
* Heart Rate Variability (HRV), as a marker of cardiovascular health and stress,
* Mental health, assessed with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - 21 Items (DASS-21 scale),
* Participants' qualitative perceptions regarding the program's benefits, barriers, and facilitators.
Given the limited research on Tai Chi in university student populations, this study seeks to contribute evidence on its potential comprehensive health benefits in this group.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
Once the Tai Chi intervention is completed (beginning one week after the final session), the qualitative phase will begin.
TREATMENT
SINGLE
Study Groups
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Experimental: Sun Tai Chi Group
The group will participate in 60-minute Sun Tai Chi sessions, held twice per week over a 12-week period.
Tai Chi (Sun Style)
The Sun Tai Chi intervention will be conducted by a Sun Tai Chi instructor with 7 years of teaching experience and will take place in an exercise room at the Catholic University of Maule. The intervention will last for 12 weeks, with a frequency of twice per week, and each class will last 60 minutes. Each session will begin with 10 minutes of warm-up exercises, followed by 20 minutes of basic Sun Tai Chi exercises, including lower limb movements, overall body mobility at a slow pace, precise movements of the hands and feet, and proper body alignment. This will be followed by 20 minutes of practice of the basic movement sequence of Sun Tai Chi (Taolú), and will conclude with 5 minutes of meditation and 5 minutes of relaxation exercises.
Control
The group will receive informational material on healthy lifestyle topics and will not receive the Sun Tai Chi intervention.
Health lifestyle education
The control group will receive guidance on a healthy physical and mental lifestyle.
Interventions
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Tai Chi (Sun Style)
The Sun Tai Chi intervention will be conducted by a Sun Tai Chi instructor with 7 years of teaching experience and will take place in an exercise room at the Catholic University of Maule. The intervention will last for 12 weeks, with a frequency of twice per week, and each class will last 60 minutes. Each session will begin with 10 minutes of warm-up exercises, followed by 20 minutes of basic Sun Tai Chi exercises, including lower limb movements, overall body mobility at a slow pace, precise movements of the hands and feet, and proper body alignment. This will be followed by 20 minutes of practice of the basic movement sequence of Sun Tai Chi (Taolú), and will conclude with 5 minutes of meditation and 5 minutes of relaxation exercises.
Health lifestyle education
The control group will receive guidance on a healthy physical and mental lifestyle.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Aged 18 to 29 years
* Both sexes
* Present mental health symptoms assessed by the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - 21 Items (DASS-21) questionnaire, according to cutoff points established by Lovibond et al., ranging from mild to severe in any of the subscales of stress (score 15 to 33), anxiety (score 8 to 19), or depression (score 10 to 27).
* Report a healthy physical condition suitable for Tai Chi practice (self-reported).
Exclusion Criteria
* Report chronic illnesses that limit or contraindicate the practice of exercises required in Tai Chi.
* Present cardiovascular, pulmonary, or neurological diseases.
* Exhibit either no mental health impairment or severe impairment according to cutoff scores established by Lovibond et al. in the DASS-21 questionnaire (stress subscale score equal to or greater than 14 or equal to or less than 37, anxiety subscale score equal to or greater than 7 or equal to or less than 20, depression subscale score equal to or greater than 9 or equal to or less than 28).
* Present specific psychiatric diagnoses, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), self-reported during the initial telephone interview.
* Consume medications for mental health treatment.
* Consume medications or substances that influence cardiac autonomic modulation (e.g., beta-blockers).
18 Years
29 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Universidad Católica del Maule
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Pamela Ling Campos Rojas
kinesiologist
Locations
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Universidad Católica del Maule
Talca, Maule Region, Chile
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Pamela Campos Rojas, PT
Role: primary
Other Identifiers
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90/2025
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id