Objective To explore value of exercise intervention under the integrated model of sports and medicine in college students with depression.

Methods A total of 126 college students with depression were selected as the research subjects, and divided into conventional group (n=63) and exercise intervention group (n=63) using the simple randomization method. The conventional group received standard pharmacological treatment and conventional nursing intervention, while the exercise intervention group received standard pharmacological treatment and exercise intervention under the integrated model of sports and medicine. The changes in depression severity Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Fatigue Associated with Depression Scale (FasD), negative automatic thoughts Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), anhedonia Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS), perceived stress of the disease Chinese version of the Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS) and coping styles Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention.

Results After the intervention, the SDS scores and FasD scores in both groups were significantly lower than those before the intervention, and the scores in the exercise intervention group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05). At weeks 2 and 8 of the intervention, the ATQ scores in both groups were significantly lower than those before the intervention, and the scores in the exercise intervention group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the DARS scores in both groups were significantly lower than those before the intervention (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the scores for hobbies/amateur activities, food/beverages, sensory experiences and social activities in the exercise intervention group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the CPSS scores in both groups were significantly lower than those before the intervention (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the scores for the loss-of-control dimension and the tension dimension in the CPSS in the exercise intervention group were significantly lower than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the scores for the self-regulation dimension, seeking-help and problem-solving dimension in the SCSQ in both groups were significantly higher than those before the intervention, while the scores for the fantasy and avoidance dimension were significantly lower than those before the intervention (P < 0.05). After the intervention, the scores for the self-regulation dimension, seeking-help and problem-solving dimension in the exercise intervention group were significantly higher than those in the conventional group, while the scores for the fantasy and avoidance dimension were significantly lower than those in the conventional group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Intervention using the dual-track model of "clinician risk assessment-exercise coach prescription implementation" can significantly improve negative automatic thoughts, social anhedonia, and avoidance coping in college students with depression.