The Impact of Exercise on Depression and Anxiety in First-Year Studentsat a Rural University in South Africa

Students who move into tertiary institutions can experience stressors, which may lead to low self-esteem, anxiety and depression. This may be alleviated by exercise. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of exercise on depression and anxiety on first-year students registered at the University of Venda (UNIVEN). A crosssectional survey design was used. The study sample consisted of 320 randomly selected first-year students, 160 students who exercised regularly and 160 students who did not exercise. Data was collected using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory-11 (BDI-11). Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis. There were no statistically significant differences when comparing the different ages and gender with exercise, depression and anxiety. The study highlights the role that exercise plays as an intervention in mental health issues among first-year university students managing with a new environment adjustment and the academic demands.