AI Insight
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials found that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly reduced mental health problems in university students, particularly stress and depression, with short interventions of 4 weeks or less showing the strongest effects. HIIT also improved specific executive functions like inhibition and cognitive shifting, but did not significantly enhance overall executive function or working memory. The certainty of evidence was rated as very low due to inconsistencies across studies and high heterogeneity in results.
Why it matters
HIIT may offer a time-efficient intervention for universities to support student mental health during periods of high academic stress. However, the low certainty of evidence indicates that more rigorous, standardized research is needed before widespread implementation recommendations can be made.
Understand the Science
IntroductionUniversity students commonly experience mental health challenges and cognitive burdens associated with academic stress and sedentary lifestyles. High-intensity interval training has been proposed as a time-efficient strategy to improve psychological and cognitive outcomes; however, evidence in university populations remains inconsistent.MethodsWeb of Science, Scopus, PubMed, SportDiscus, and MEDLINE were searched from database inception to December 2024, with an updated search performed in April 2026. Randomized controlled trials investigating HIIT interventions in university students were included. Multilevel random-effects meta-analyses, subgroup analyses, exploratory moderator analyses, and sensitivity analyses were conducted.ResultsSeventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. HIIT was associated with significant reductions in mental ill-health outcomes (SMD = −0.732, 95% CI: −1.236 to −0.229, p < 0.05; I2 = 84.34%). Domain-specific analyses showed significant reductions in stress and depression, whereas no significant effect was observed for anxiety. Interventions lasting ≤4 weeks showed greater effects than longer interventions. For executive function, the overall pooled effect was not statistically significant (SMD = 0.400, 95% CI: −0.006 to 0.807, p = 0.054; I2 = 70.18%). Significant improvements were identified for inhibition and shifting, but not for working memory. The certainty of evidence was very low.DiscussionCurrent evidence suggests that HIIT may reduce some mental ill-health outcomes among university students and may benefit selected executive function domains, but evidence for overall executive function remains inconclusive.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42025632509, Identifier CRD42025632509.