Association between exercise and mental health among emerging adults: Results from the 2023–2024 healthy minds study

Background: Emerging adulthood is a developmentally unstable period with a high burden of depression and anxiety, yet the association between exercise time and mental health in this population remains insufficiently understood. Objective: The present study aims to investigate the association between exercise time and mental health (depression and anxiety) among emerging adults. Methods: Data from 37,732 emerging adults aged 18 to 29 were drawn from the 2023–2024 Healthy Minds Study. Self-report exercise habits and mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety) were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression with adjustments for covariates. Results: The results indicated significant associations between exercise, depression, and anxiety. Compared to participants who exercised less than 1 h per week, those who exercised ≥1 h per week had progressively lower odds of depressive and anxiety symptoms. The lowest odds were observed among those who exercised ≥5 h per week. These protective effects were evident in both males and females during emerging adulthood. Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that incremental exercise is strongly associated with better mental health in emerging adults. Emerging adults who engaged in more exercise had significantly lower risks of depressive (odds ratio [OR] = 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.46, 0.57]; p < 0.001) and anxious (OR = 0.64, 95% CI [0.58, 0.71]; p < 0.001) symptoms. These results highlight the necessity of supporting and promoting exercise as an important component of mental health programs in universities or communities. However, future research should include longitudinal and interventional studies to confirm causality and to determine the most effective approach to integrate physical activity into mental health promotion programs.