Physical Exercise and Academic Burnout: Exploring the Interplay of Type, Intensity, and Frequency

This study investigated the effects of physical exercise on academic burnout among college students, focusing on the role of exercise type, intensity, and frequency, as well as their interaction.A total of 100 college students from various colleges and universities in Shandong, China, were randomly selected to participate in a cross-sectional survey.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, which included items on exercise habits and academic burnout, and measured by a five-item burnout scale.Results showed that there was a significant difference in burnout scores between team exercise and individual exercise, with team exercise having a lower level of burnout (p < 0.001).Moderate-intensity exercise was found to be most effective in reducing academic burnout (p < 0.001), while a weak, non-statistically significant correlation was found between exercise frequency and burnout.The interaction showed that a combination of team and moderate-intensity exercise produced the lowest burnout score (p = 0.032).These findings suggest that a customized exercise intervention combining team and moderate-intensity activities can effectively alleviate academic burnout.This study provides theoretical insights and practical suggestions for integrating physical exercise into student health programs.