{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T14:47:10Z","timestamp":1787064430870,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]],"date-time":"2025-11-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763683200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100012226","name":"Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["YBNLTS2023-041"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["YBNLTS2023-041"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100012226","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The present study investigates the effects of physical education programs with varying exercise intensities on muscle strength and depressive symptoms in adolescents, while also evaluates the role of muscle strength improvement in alleviating depressive symptoms. A total of 266 eighth-grade students were divided into three groups based on exercise intensity (low, moderate, and vigorous). Over 12 weeks, students participated in physical education sessions three times per week. Muscle strength was assessed using the standing long jump and handgrip strength tests, while depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Paired t-tests and one-way ANOVA were used to evaluate intra-group and inter-group differences, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the predictive effect of muscle strength changes on depressive symptoms. Results indicated Significant improvements in standing long jump and grip strength were observed across all groups, with the vigorous-intensity group achieving the greatest gains. Depressive symptoms improved significantly in the moderate- and vigorous-intensity groups, with the latter showing the most pronounced reductions. Notably, improvements in standing long jump significantly predicted reductions in depressive symptoms, particularly in the vigorous-intensity group, whereas handgrip strength did not. These results suggest that integrating higher-intensity physical activities into school programs may have beneficial effects on both physical and mental health. Lower-limb muscle strength improvements predict reduced depressive symptoms, underscoring the importance of targeted strength training in physical education. This clinical trial has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry under the registration number ChiCTR2500103874.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0336894","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]],"date-time":"2025-11-21T18:33:47Z","timestamp":1763750027000},"page":"e0336894","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Effects of varying exercise intensities on muscle strength and depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents: A 12-week randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-9343-8649","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Qing","family":"Chang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xingrui","family":"Han","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wenlong","family":"Shen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Baoyi","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zongrui","family":"Lin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]]},"reference":[{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0336894.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejim.2015.04.013","article-title":"Muscular strength as a strong predictor of mortality: a narrative review","volume":"26","author":"KA Volaklis","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur J Intern Med"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"498","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2018.11.043","article-title":"Prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents in secondary school in mainland China: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"245","author":"X Tang","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0336894.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1186\/s12991-023-00463-0","article-title":"Prevalence of mental disorders among middle school students in Shaoxing, China","volume":"22","author":"S Pei","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ann Gen Psychiatry"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0336894.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1093\/gerona\/58.3.M249","article-title":"Depression in late life: review and commentary","volume":"58","author":"DG Blazer","year":"2003","journal-title":"J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0336894.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.1192\/bjp.bp.111.095174","article-title":"Effect of exercise on depression severity in older people: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials","volume":"201","author":"C Bridle","year":"2012","journal-title":"Br J Psychiatry"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0336894.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1395","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-024-05688-9","article-title":"Optimal intensity and dose of exercise to improve university students\u2019 mental health: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of 48 randomized controlled trials","volume":"125","author":"J Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur J Appl Physiol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0336894.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1724","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-020-09855-3","article-title":"Exercise\/physical activity and health outcomes: an overview of Cochrane systematic reviews","volume":"20","author":"P Posadzki","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"issue":"13","key":"pone.0336894.ref008","first-page":"44","article-title":"The effectiveness of different intensity physical exercises on the mental health of college students","volume":"12","author":"u Xue P e i y","year":"2022","journal-title":"Contemporary Sports Technology"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref009","unstructured":"Verywell Health. Is It Time To Ditch HIIT for Steady-State Cardio? 2024 [cited 2025 Jan 27]. Available from: https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/hiit-workout-vs-steady-state-cardio-8760240"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1416804","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2024.1416804","article-title":"Association between relative grip strength and depression among U.S. middle-aged and older adults: results from the NHANES database","volume":"12","author":"A Sun","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2010.12.005","article-title":"Objective physical functioning in patients with depressive and\/or anxiety disorders","volume":"131","author":"BA van Milligen","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0336894.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.3758\/BF03193146","article-title":"G*Power 3: a flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences","volume":"39","author":"F Faul","year":"2007","journal-title":"Behav Res Methods"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref013","article-title":"Aerobic exercise improves verbal working memory sub-processes in adolescents: behavioral evidence from an N-back task","volume":"12","author":"Y Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"PeerJ"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref014","article-title":"Effects of a novel neuromuscular training intervention on jump, sprint, and change of direction in adult female soccer players","volume":"220","author":"A Roso-Moliner","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Vis Exp"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0336894.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1149","DOI":"10.3758\/BRM.41.4.1149","article-title":"Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: tests for correlation and regression analyses","volume":"41","author":"F Faul","year":"2009","journal-title":"Behav Res Methods"},{"issue":"09","key":"pone.0336894.ref016","first-page":"72","article-title":"Reflection and construction of physical education and health curriculum model in China.","volume":"38","author":"L Ji","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Beijing Sport Univ"},{"issue":"11","key":"pone.0336894.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"792","DOI":"10.1016\/S2352-4642(21)00267-4","article-title":"Early targeted heart rate aerobic exercise versus placebo stretching for sport-related concussion in adolescents: a randomised controlled trial","volume":"5","author":"JJ Leddy","year":"2021","journal-title":"Lancet Child Adolesc Health"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0336894.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0217288","article-title":"Validation of Polar OH1 optical heart rate sensor for moderate and high intensity physical activities","volume":"14","author":"IT Hettiarachchi","year":"2019","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"244","DOI":"10.1007\/s004210100436","article-title":"Heart rate as an indicator of the intensity of physical activity in human adolescents","volume":"85","author":"U Ekelund","year":"2001","journal-title":"Eur J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100425","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajpc.2022.100425","article-title":"Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular health: a clinical practice statement of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology Part II: Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, minimum and goal intensities for exercise training, prescriptive methods, and special patient populations","volume":"12","author":"BA Franklin","year":"2022","journal-title":"Am J Prev Cardiol"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref021","first-page":"239","article-title":"Effects of exercise intensity on VO2max in studies comparing two or more exercise intensities: a meta-analysis","volume":"13","author":"JA Montero","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0336894.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"960","DOI":"10.1007\/s12035-022-03117-6","article-title":"Moderate-intensity treadmill exercise promotes mTOR-dependent motor cortical neurotrophic factor expression and functional recovery in a murine model of crush spinal cord injury (SCI)","volume":"60","author":"Z Zhan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Mol Neurobiol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0336894.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jshs.2016.08.010","article-title":"How does high-intensity intermittent training affect recreational endurance runners? Acute and chronic adaptations: a systematic review","volume":"6","author":"F Garc\u00eda-Pinillos","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Sport Health Sci"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1102526","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2023.1102526","article-title":"Exercise improves depression through positive modulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). A review based on 100 manuscripts over 20 years","volume":"14","author":"M Jemni","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Physiol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0336894.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.3390\/muscles3010007","article-title":"The effects of regional muscle strength and mass on standing long jump performance","volume":"3","author":"Y Nakai","year":"2024","journal-title":"Muscles"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2022.01.036","article-title":"Longitudinal association between muscle strength and depression in middle-aged and older adults: a 7-year prospective cohort study in China","volume":"301","author":"M Bao","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.1177\/014662167700100306","article-title":"The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population","volume":"1","author":"LS Radloff","year":"1977","journal-title":"Appl Psychol Measure"},{"issue":"04","key":"pone.0336894.ref028","first-page":"443","article-title":"Psychometric features of CES-D in Chinese adolescents","volume":"17","author":"Z Chen","year":"2009","journal-title":"Chin J Clin Psychol"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0336894.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1821","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-017-0716-0","article-title":"Accelerometer data collection and processing criteria to assess physical activity and other outcomes: a systematic review and practical considerations","volume":"47","author":"JH Migueles","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sports Med"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2017.00331","article-title":"Greater neural adaptations following high- vs. low-load resistance training","volume":"8","author":"NDM Jenkins","year":"2017","journal-title":"Front Physiol"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0336894.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"359","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1973.sp010192","article-title":"The orderly recruitment of human motor units during voluntary isometric contractions","volume":"230","author":"HS Milner-Brown","year":"1973","journal-title":"J Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"857555","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2022.857555","article-title":"Effects of high-volume versus high-load resistance training on skeletal muscle growth and molecular adaptations","volume":"13","author":"CG Vann","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2016.04.030","article-title":"Sweating away depression? The impact of intensive exercise on depression","volume":"200","author":"R Balchin","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"key":"pone.0336894.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj-2023-075847","article-title":"Effect of exercise for depression: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials","volume":"384","author":"M Noetel","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0336894.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"316","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-023-04834-5","article-title":"An implementation evaluation of the physical activity counseling for inpatients with major depressive disorder (PACINPAT) intervention: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"23","author":"R Cody","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0336894.ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"206","DOI":"10.1186\/s13063-023-07226-y","article-title":"Eye movement desensitization and processing for adolescents with major depressive disorder: study protocol for a multi-site randomized controlled trial","volume":"24","author":"CC Paauw","year":"2023","journal-title":"Trials"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0336894.ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-3999(92)90114-H","article-title":"The effects of physical activity and exercise training on psychological stress and well-being in an adolescent population","volume":"36","author":"R Norris","year":"1992","journal-title":"J Psychosom Res"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0336894.ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1698","DOI":"10.1249\/MSS.0000000000001969","article-title":"High-intensity aerobic exercise acutely increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor","volume":"51","author":"RE Ross","year":"2019","journal-title":"Med Sci Sports Exerc"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0336894.ref039","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"665","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14030665","article-title":"Muscle strength moderates the relationship between nutritional health risk and depression in korean older adults","volume":"14","author":"J Kim","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0336894.ref040","article-title":"Lower limb strength and depression: a national cross-sectional study of an elderly population in China","volume":"25","author":"T Cai","year":"2025","journal-title":"Psychogeriatrics"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0336894.ref041","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1016\/S0272-7358(99)00032-X","article-title":"Effects of physical exercise on anxiety, depression, and sensitivity to stress: a unifying theory","volume":"21","author":"P Salmon","year":"2001","journal-title":"Clin Psychol Rev"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0336894.ref042","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1721","DOI":"10.1007\/s40520-020-01689-8","article-title":"Are we maximizing the utility of handgrip strength assessments for evaluating muscle function?","volume":"33","author":"R McGrath","year":"2021","journal-title":"Aging Clin Exp Res"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0336894.ref043","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1240","DOI":"10.1089\/neu.2016.4532","article-title":"High-intensity locomotor exercise increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury","volume":"34","author":"KA Leech","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Neurotrauma"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0336894.ref044","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afq022","article-title":"Handgrip strength as a predictor of functional, psychological and social health. A prospective population-based study among the oldest old","volume":"39","author":"DG Taekema","year":"2010","journal-title":"Age Ageing"}],"container-title":["PLOS One"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0336894","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]],"date-time":"2025-11-21T18:33:54Z","timestamp":1763750034000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0336894"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Hidetaka","family":"Hamasaki","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0336894","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,21]]}}}