Tai Chi as a preventive intervention for improving mental and physical health in non-depressed college students with high perceived stress

Aim: Non-depressed college students with high perceived stress represent a distinct preclinical population at elevated risk for psychological deterioration. While Tai Chi is established as a mind–body exercise for improving wellbeing in clinical and older populations, its targeted efficacy in this specific atrisk subgroup—particularly regarding integrated physical and mental health benefits—remains inadequately explored. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 16-week Tai Chi program on comprehensive fitness outcomes in this population. Methods: Eighty-eight non-depressed students with high perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale scores between 38 and 56, Self-Rating Depression Scale scores below 50) were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi group (n = 47), which underwent a 16-week supervised program (3 sessions/week, 90 min/session), or a control group (n = 41) that maintained usual activities. Assessments pre- and post-intervention covered health-related physical fitness and mental health status (Perceived Stress Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Fatigue Scale-14, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and SF-36). Results: Compared to controls, the Tai Chi group showed significant betweengroup improvements in lower-limb muscular endurance (squat test), perceived stress, sleep quality, somatic anxiety, role limitations due to physical health, and social functioning (all p < 0.05). Significant enhancements were also observed in physical functioning, fatigue, and general mental health (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: The 16-week Tai Chi intervention yielded concurrent benefits in physical and mental health among non-depressed college students with high perceived stress. These findings support Tai Chi as a feasible, multi-targeted preventive strategy against stress-related morbidity in this at-risk campus population.