ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo construct the mental health benefits of physical activity of Tai Chi and framework for college students based on International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), and to systematically review the effect of physical activity of Tai Chi on anxiety, depression and sleep quality of college students. MethodsRelevant literatures about the health outcomes on anxiety, depression and sleep quality of college students participating in physical activity of Tai Chi were retrieved from databases of Web of Science, PubMed, Medline, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang data, from the establishment to November 10th, 2022, and screened and reviewed. ResultsTen randomized controlled trials were included finally, from China and U.S.， involving 960 participants (aged 16.4 to 40 years). The main sources were from journals about physical activity and health, with publication dates from 2016 to 2021. The quality of the included literatures was evaluated using the Physical Therapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale with a mean score of 6.3. The main mental health problems of college students mainly focused on depression, anxiety, high stress, and poor sleep quality. The physical activity of Tai Chi included 24 simplified Tai Chi and Chen style Tai Chi. The frequency of physical activity of Tai Chi was mainly 1 to 6 times a week, 45 to 90 minutes (60 minutes mostly) a time, for 4 to 18 weeks. The health benefits of Tai Chi on anxiety, depression, and sleep quality for college students in the ICF were mainly in the affective function (b152), psychomotor function (b147), energy and drive function (b130), and sleep function (b134). The beneficial outcomes of physical activity of Tai Chi involved reducing anxiety, alleviating depressive symptoms and reducing stress. Compared with physical activity of Tai Chi, physical activity of Tai Chi with the addition of a twenty-four-pattern Taijiquan theory course was more effective in improving depression levels in patients with mild and moderate depression. Tai Chi also can help to improve sleep quality, shorten the time to sleep, and reduce sleep disturbances and daytime dysfunction. ConclusionA PICO framework of Tai Chi for the health benefits of college students has been constructed using ICF. Tai Chi engaged in by college students are mainly 24 simplified Tai Chi. The frequency of physical activity of Tai Chi is 45 to 90 minutes (60 minutes mostly) a time, 1 to 6 times a week, for 4 to 18 weeks. The physical activities of Tai Chi can benefit in reducing anxiety and depression of college students and improving the quality of sleep.