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Behavioral Sciences
Volume 16
Issue 1
10.3390/bs16010015
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Systematic Review

High-Frequency, Short-Session Exercise Decreases Anxiety and Depression in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

by
Yexi Tang
1,2,†,
Yifan Zhang
2,†,
Hao Su
2,
Yuanyuan Lv
3,
Meirong Sun
4,5,6,* and
Laikang Yu
1,*
1
Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Performance and Skill Assessment, Beijing 100084, China
2
Department of Strength and Conditioning Assessment and Monitoring, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
3
China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
4
School of Psychology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
5
Key Laboratory of Exercise and Physical Fitness (Beijing Sport University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100084, China
6
Laboratory of Sports Stress and Adaptation of General Administration of Sport, Beijing 100084, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Behav. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010015 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 6 November 2025 / Revised: 2 December 2025 / Accepted: 16 December 2025 / Published: 21 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Topic The Effect of Physical Activity on the Population's Health)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise on anxiety and depression in individuals with type 2 diabetics mellitus (T2DM) and to determine the optimal exercise prescription for this population. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases was conducted through 13 May 2025. Pooled analyses were performed using standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval. Exercise significantly alleviated anxiety (SMD, −0.66, p < 0.00001) and depression (SMD, −0.55, p < 0.0001) in individuals with T2DM. Subgroup analyses revealed that aerobic exercise (anxiety, SMD, −0.68, p < 0.00001; depression, SMD, −0.63, p = 0.005) and interventions performed ≥ 3 times per week (anxiety, SMD, −0.72, p < 0.00001; depression, SMD, −0.72, p < 0.00001), lasting < 60 min per session (anxiety, SMD, −0.78, p < 0.00001; depression, SMD, −0.67, p < 0.00001), and accumulating ≤ 180 min per week (anxiety, SMD, −0.60, p < 0.00001; depression, SMD, −0.60, p = 0.0008) were most effective in alleviating anxiety and depression. While the findings of this meta-analysis suggest that engaging in exercise at a frequency of at least 3 times per week, with each session lasting less than 60 min (accumulating to approximately 180 min per week), may be associated with greater psychological improvements, these recommendations should be interpreted cautiously due to variability in study quality, intervention types, and sample characteristics.
Keywords: exercise; anxiety; depression; type 2 diabetes mellitus exercise; anxiety; depression; type 2 diabetes mellitus

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MDPI and ACS Style

Tang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Su, H.; Lv, Y.; Sun, M.; Yu, L. High-Frequency, Short-Session Exercise Decreases Anxiety and Depression in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Behav. Sci. 2026, 16, 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010015

AMA Style

Tang Y, Zhang Y, Su H, Lv Y, Sun M, Yu L. High-Frequency, Short-Session Exercise Decreases Anxiety and Depression in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Behavioral Sciences. 2026; 16(1):15. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010015

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tang, Yexi, Yifan Zhang, Hao Su, Yuanyuan Lv, Meirong Sun, and Laikang Yu. 2026. "High-Frequency, Short-Session Exercise Decreases Anxiety and Depression in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials" Behavioral Sciences 16, no. 1: 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010015

APA Style

Tang, Y., Zhang, Y., Su, H., Lv, Y., Sun, M., & Yu, L. (2026). High-Frequency, Short-Session Exercise Decreases Anxiety and Depression in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Behavioral Sciences, 16(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs16010015

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