The Stride program: Feasibility and pre-to-post program change of an exercise service for university students experiencing mental distress

Ivan Jeftic; Bonnie Furzer; James A Dimmock; Kemi Wright; Timothy Budden; Conor Boyd; Aaron Simpson; Michael Rosenberg; Catherine M Sabiston; Melissa deJonge; Ben Jackson

doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102507

The Stride program: Feasibility and pre-to-post program change of an exercise service for university students experiencing mental distress

Psychol Sport Exerc. 2023 Nov:69:102507. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102507. Epub 2023 Aug 16.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), University of Western Australia, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: ivan.jeftic@uwa.edu.au.
² School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), University of Western Australia, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Fremantle Hospital Mental Health Service, South Metropolitan Health Service, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.
³ Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Psychology, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Australia.
⁴ School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), University of Western Australia, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
⁶ School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), University of Western Australia, Australia.
⁷ Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 37665942
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2023.102507

Abstract

Rates of mental illness are disproportionately high for young adult and higher education (e.g., university student) populations. As such, universities and tertiary institutions often devote significant efforts to services and programs that support and treat mental illness and/or mental distress. However, within that portfolio of treatment approaches, structured exercise has been relatively underutilised and greater research attention is needed to develop this evidence base. The Stride program is a structured 12-week exercise service for students experiencing mental distress. We aimed to explore the feasibility of the program and assess pre- and post-program change, through assessments of student health, lifestyle, and wellbeing outcomes. Drawing from feasibility and effectiveness-implementation hybrid design literatures, we conducted a non-randomised feasibility trial of the Stride program. Participants were recruited from the Stride program (N = 114, M_age = 24.21 years). Feasibility results indicated the program was perceived as acceptable and that participants reported positive perceptions of program components, personnel, and sessions. Participants' pre-to-post program change in depressive symptomatology, physical activity levels, mental health-related quality of life, and various behavioural outcomes were found to be desirable. Our results provide support for the feasibility of the Stride program, and more broadly for the delivery and potential effectiveness of structured exercise programs to support university students experiencing mental distress.

Keywords: Anxiety; College; Depression; Gym; Mental health; Physical activity.

Publication types

Clinical Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Exercise
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Mental Disorders*
Quality of Life*
Students
Universities
Young Adult