Author(s): LIN, H., LI, Z., SU, Q., WU, J., Institution: HARBIN ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY, Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 954

Abstract: Introduction: Although numerous studies have shown that regular physical exercise can promote individual mental well-being and effectively treat emotional dysregulation symptoms comparable to psychotherapy and antidepressant medication, our understanding of how physical exercise influences students mental health through physiological mechanisms, particularly involving the gut-brain axis and gut microbiota, is still insufficient. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature and explore how physical exercise affects students mental health pathways via the physiological mechanisms of the gut-brain axis. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing research, this review aims to deepen our understanding of the approaches to improving students mental health, provide a theoretical basis for physical exercise to foster students mental well-being, assist in the formulation of more effective health policies and interventions, and offer insights into future research directions.
Methods: The literature review method and CiteSpace 6.2.R6 keyword burst mapping analysis were employed. This narrative review followed a narrative review checklist and selected 415 Web of Science articles for CiteSpace 6.2.R6 keyword burst mapping analysis based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, with 58 research articles chosen for review.
Results: We integrated and summarized the main findings and conclusions of the 58 selected research articles to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of physical exercise on the gut-brain axis and gut microbiota and to explore their relationship with mental health. On the other hand, we used CiteSpace 6.2.R6 analysis tools to conduct data extraction and visualization analysis on the 415 Web of Science articles, deeply understanding the time span of important keywords and their emergence, prosperity, and decline in specific research fields, providing a comprehensive overview of the latest research in the field. Additionally, we evaluated the quality of the studies, methodological limitations, and future research directions.
Conclusion: Gut microbiota are closely associated with mental health, with a negative correlation between microbial diversity and abundance and the incidence of psychological issues. The gut-brain axis and gut microbiota act as intermediaries in this relationship, with their abnormal functioning linked to psychological issues. Physical exercise has a bidirectional and reversible impact on the gut-brain axis and gut microbiota, which gradually diminishes and disappears completely following the cessation of exercise. Moderate aerobic exercise can enhance the diversity and stability of the gut microbiota in individual students, potentially contributing to improved mental health, including reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, increased self-esteem, and enhanced psychological well-being. In contrast, intense exercise may have the opposite effect.