Open Access

ARTICLE

Effectiveness of Mind-Body Exercise on Burnout and Stress in Female Undergraduate Students

Xiaohong Zhu¹, Tongyang Chu², Qian Yu³, Jinming Li³, Xingyu Zhang³, Yanjie Zhang^3,4,*, Liye Zou³
1 College of Sports Science, Jishou University, Jishou, 416000, China
2 College of Arts and Physical Education, Sejong University, Seoul, 05006, South Korea
3 Exercise Psychophysiology Laboratory, Institute of KEEP Collaborative Innovation, School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
4 Health and Exercise Science Laboratory, Institute of Sports Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
* Corresponding Author: Yanjie Zhang. Email:

International Journal of Mental Health Promotion 2021, 23(3), 353-360. https://doi.org/10.32604/IJMHP.2021.016339

Received 26 February 2021; Accepted 31 March 2021; Issue published 23 July 2021

Abstract

This study was to investigate the effects of mind-body exercise on burnout and perceived stress among female undergraduate students. A sample of 146 female undergraduate students took part in this study. They were assigned to mind-body exercise group (n = 91) and control group (n = 55). Mind-body exercise group received three 90-min sessions of Baduanjin exercise per week lasting for 12-weeks. There was no intervention in the control group. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey was used to assess burnout level, and the 10-item perceived stress scale was used to assess stress level. Significant decreases in emotional exhaustion (p < 0.001), cynicism (p < 0.001) and perceived stress (p < 0.001) were found in the mind-body exercise group compared with control group. Furthermore after 12-week mind-body exercise, emotional exhaustion, cynicism and perceived stress had greater reduction. Mind-body exercise (Baduanjin) may be considered an alternative strategy to reduce burnout and perceived stress in female undergraduate students.

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Keywords

Qigong; burnout; stress; undergraduate students

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