Anxiety Among the College Student Population and Exercise as a Treatment for Anxiety

Abstract

Research has shown college students experience significant subjective stress Perez and associates (2023), despite modern life containing much less physical danger than past lifestyles. Separately, exercise has proven to be an effective method for attenuating the symptoms of anxiety, Cheong and associates (2024). This literature review aims to explore the present body of work pertaining to anxiety among the college student population, in addition to current literature exploring the treatment of anxiety with exercise therapy.  This paper will then explore present literature studying exercise for anxiety treatment in the college population, such as Kumar (2024), and Castellote-Caballero and associates (2024). The confluence of these existing bodies of work could then inform future research relevant to mitigating the mental distress of college students.  Contrary to the author’s initial expectations, aerobic exercise showed the greatest reduction in anxiety, Kumar (2024), potentially informing future research.