Effects of Physical Activity and Coping Styles on Depression in Chinese College Students

Abstract

The relationship between physical activity and cognitive coping is an important factor affecting depression in college students. A standardized questionnaire was used to investigate 976 16-23 year old single college students from a university in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. To analyze the relationship between physical activity, cognitive coping and depression in college students. Through the perspective of individual students, teachers and counselors, some guiding suggestions are put forward to improve the psychological condition of college students, and provide support for college students how to learn better, adapt to the society and have a healthier psychological condition. The results showed that there was significant correlation between cognitive coping and depression, physical movement and depression. The average depression scores of college students were significantly higher in female, senior, over 21 years old and Liberal arts than other groups. In the comparison of coping style scores among different groups, there are significant differences between Age and Grade. There are also significant differences in sex, Age, Grade and subject type in the comparison of physical activity scores of college students among different groups.