ABSTRACT
Objective@#To explore the effects of esports participation, exercise and combined intervention on BMI and sleep quality of depressed college students, so as to provide reference and suggestions for improving the treatment of depression.@*Methods@#From April 6th- to July 16th in 2021, 180 non-sports-major college students of grade 1 to 4 in Heman Normal University were selected, and were randomly assigned into depression control group( n =35), esports group( n =38), sports group( n =35), esports and sports group ( n =32) and normal control group ( n =40). In total ,140 participants were depressed and 40 were physically and mentally healthy. The esports experimental group carried out 8 weeks of PC esports project intervention, and the exercise group received 8-week running exercise and HIIT exercise combined intervention. The esports and exercise group received 8 weeks of PC esports intervention combined with running exercise and HIIT exercise. The depression and normal control group received no intervention. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the levels of depression and sleep quality before and after different interventions. @*Results@#The score of depression and sleep quality in esports group significantly decreased compared with those before intervention ( t=10.31, 8.50, P <0.01), no similar decrease in BMI ( P >0.05). The depression score, BMI, and sleep quality scores in the exercise group decreased compared to those before intervention ( t=13.74, 8.53, 8.10, P <0.01); For the joint intervention groups, the scores of the three indicators decreased compared to those before the intervention ( t=6.16, 13.30, 8.35, P < 0.01).@*Conclusion@#Esports, exercise and combined intervention reduce symptorns of depression of college students, but show no effects on BMI, while exercise and combined intervention can improve sleep of college students. Actively utilizing the advantages of esports and combining sports measures should be uesd to improve the mental health of college students.