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University students face considerable mental health challenges, yet access to conventional interventions can be limited. Baduanjin — a traditional eight-movement Qigong form — has attracted interest as a low-cost, easily standardised mind-body practice. Despite a growing body of small trials, the overall evidence had not been rigorously pooled until this systematic review and meta-analysis.
Researchers searched both English and Chinese databases for randomised controlled trials published up to January 2026, comparing Baduanjin with routine care in university student populations. Thirty-six randomised controlled trials involving over 3,200 students were included in the review, with 35 studies contributing to the meta-analysis. Outcomes examined included general mental health, depression, anxiety, mood, perceived stress, fatigue, and sleep quality.
Across all measured outcomes, Baduanjin practice produced statistically significant improvements compared with control conditions. Benefits were observed for depression, anxiety, stress, negative mood states, fatigue, and sleep quality. Subgroup analyses suggested that practising three sessions per week may be particularly beneficial for general mental health, and that programmes of 12 weeks or fewer may be more effective for reducing depressive symptoms. Notably, gains in sleep quality and stress did not appear to persist once the intervention ended. The methodological quality of included studies was rated as moderate overall.
Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides encouraging evidence that regular Baduanjin practice can support mental wellbeing in university students, though higher-quality trials and investigation of long-term effects are needed before firm recommendations can be made.
Source: Chen J, Geng Q, Xie S and colleagues. Frontiers in psychology (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42220380) · doi:10.16038/j.1000-6710.2023.12.004
