Healthy Young AdultsDASS21-CORTNCT07398729
Physiological and Psychological Effects
A study testing Calisthenic exercise and Motivational factors and Motivational factors in people with Healthy Young Adults, run by Bingol University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Stress-related mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress are common among young adults and are often linked to both psychological and physiological changes in the body. One of the key biological markers of stress is cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy Young Adults
- What is being tested?
- Calisthenic exercise and Motivational factors and Motivational factors
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 84 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 2 Jul 2025to 20 Jan 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Individuals who voluntarily agreed to participate.
- Individuals aged between 18 and 25 years.
- Individuals who had not engaged in regular exercise (at least three days per week) within the past six months.
- Individuals with no diagnosed psychiatric disorder.
- Individuals with no chronic health condition.
- Individuals who did not use any substances.
Who cannot join
- Individuals who did not agree to participate in the study.
- Individuals who completed the baseline (pre-intervention) assessment but did not complete the post-intervention assessment.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effects of Short-term Motivational Factors and Calisthenic Exercise on Blood Cortisol Levels, and Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Young Adults
Stress-related mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress are common among young adults and are often linked to both psychological and physiological changes in the body. One of the key biological markers of stress is cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress. Elevated cortisol levels over time may negatively affect both mental and physical health. Although regular physical activity and relaxation-based approaches are known to reduce stress, it is not yet clear whether short-term, easily applicable interventions can produce measurable benefits, especially when motivational strategies and exercise are combined.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of short-term motivational factors and a single session of calisthenic exercise on blood cortisol levels and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in young adults. Motivational factors in this study include group-based activities, diaphragmatic breathing, and stretching exercises, which are designed to increase engagement and relaxation without requiring intense physical effort. Calisthenic exercise refers to bodyweight-based movements that can be performed without special equipment and are accessible to most individuals.
Read more
This randomized controlled trial compares three groups: one group receiving motivational factors followed by a single session of calisthenic exercise, a second group receiving motivational factors only, and a control group receiving no intervention. By measuring blood cortisol levels and self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress before and after the intervention, the study aims to determine whether these short-term interventions can lead to meaningful psychological and physiological improvements.
The main question this study seeks to answer is whether a brief, single-session intervention combining motivational strategies and calisthenic exercise is more effective than motivational strategies alone or no intervention in reducing stress hormone levels and psychological distress in young adults. Additionally, the study explores whether lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, such as exercise habits, sleep patterns, and perceived economic status, are associated with cortisol levels.
The findings of this study may help identify simple, low-cost, and time-efficient approaches that can be used to support stress management and mental well-being in young adult populations, particularly in university settings.
- Conditions
- Healthy Young Adults
- Being tested
- Calisthenic exercise and Motivational factors, Motivational factors
- Keywords
- Anxiety, Calisthenic exercise, Cortisol, Depression, Motivational factors, Stress, Young adult
- Medical subject headings
- Anxiety Disorders, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Calisthenic exercise and Motivational factorsOther
Also called CE and MF
Following a 15-minute motivational factors intervention, a 30-minute calisthenic exercise program was implemented.
Motivational factorsOther
A 15-minute motivational factors intervention was applied.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | No intervention was applied to this group. |
| MF group | Experimental | Only motivational factors were applied to this group. As motivational factors, participants performed diaphragmatic breathing exercises and stretching exercises in groups. Receives: Other: Motivational factors |
| MF+CE group | Experimental | Motivational factors and calisthenic exercises were applied to this group. First, motivational factors were implemented in groups, followed by calisthenic exercises. Receives: Other: Calisthenic exercise and Motivational factors; Other: Motivational factors |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
DASS-21
It is scored between 0 and 63. Higher scores indicate higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the single 45-minute exercise session
Cortisol
Blood cortisol concentration will be measured in µg/dL using a standardized laboratory assay.
A value of 17 µg/dL is considered a commonly used reference threshold, with values above this level generally indicating higher physiological stress and values below this level indicating lower physiological stress.
Measured: Immediately before the exercise session and 20 minutes after completion of the single exercise session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Feb 2026
- Study start2 Jul 2025
- Primary completion19 Nov 2025
- Study completion20 Jan 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Healthy Young AdultsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study is a three-arm, randomised controlled trial.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bingol University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mehmet Kaplan, Bingol University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07398729
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BAP-SHMYO.2025.001
- Other IDs
- BAP-SHMYO.2025.001
- Acronym
- DASS21-CORT
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared because the dataset contains sensitive personal and biological information, and data sharing was not included in the informed consent obtained from participants.
Publications
Kaplan M, Cakar F, Simsek H, Celik M, Ozer MY. The effects of short-term motivational factors and calisthenic exercise on blood cortisol levels, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in young adults: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 Apr 20;18(1):259. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01699-5.
PubMed 42010691
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Short-term Motivational Factors and Calisthenic Exercise on Blood Cortisol Levels, and Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Young Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07398729
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- DASS21-CORT / BAP-SHMYO.2025.001
- Conditions
- Healthy Young Adults
- Keywords
- Anxiety, Calisthenic exercise, Cortisol, Depression, Motivational factors, Stress, Young adult
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bingol UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 19 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Jan 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Stress-related mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress are common among young adults and are often linked to both psychological and physiological changes in the body. One of the key biological markers of stress is cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress. Elevated cortisol levels over time may negatively affect both mental and physical health. Although regular physical activity and relaxation-based approaches are known to reduce stress, it is not yet clear whether short-term, easily applicable interventions can produce measurable benefits, especially when motivational strategies and exercise are combined.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of short-term motivational factors and a single session of calisthenic exercise on blood cortisol levels and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in young adults. Motivational factors in this study include group-based activities, diaphragmatic breathing, and stretching exercises, which are designed to increase engagement and relaxation without requiring intense physical effort. Calisthenic exercise refers to bodyweight-based movements that can be performed without special equipment and are accessible to most individuals.
This randomized controlled trial compares three groups: one group receiving motivational factors followed by a single session of calisthenic exercise, a second group receiving motivational factors only, and a control group receiving no intervention. By measuring blood cortisol levels and self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress before and after the intervention, the study aims to determine whether these short-term interventions can lead to meaningful psychological and physiological improvements.
The main question this study seeks to answer is whether a brief, single-session intervention combining motivational strategies and calisthenic exercise is more effective than motivational strategies alone or no intervention in reducing stress hormone levels and psychological distress in young adults. Additionally, the study explores whether lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, such as exercise habits, sleep patterns, and perceived economic status, are associated with cortisol levels.
The findings of this study may help identify simple, low-cost, and time-efficient approaches that can be used to support stress management and mental well-being in young adult populations, particularly in university settings.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- This study is a three-arm, randomised controlled trial.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | –No intervention was applied to this group. |
| MF group | Experimental | Other: Motivational factorsOnly motivational factors were applied to this group. As motivational factors, participants performed diaphragmatic breathing exercises and stretching exercises in groups. |
| MF+CE group | Experimental | Other: Calisthenic exercise and Motivational factors, Other: Motivational factorsMotivational factors and calisthenic exercises were applied to this group. First, motivational factors were implemented in groups, followed by calisthenic exercises. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Individuals who voluntarily agreed to participate.
- Individuals aged between 18 and 25 years.
- Individuals who had not engaged in regular exercise (at least three days per week) within the past six months.
- Individuals with no diagnosed psychiatric disorder.
- Individuals with no chronic health condition.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Individuals who did not agree to participate in the study.
- Individuals who completed the baseline (pre-intervention) assessment but did not complete the post-intervention assessment.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Calisthenic exercise and Motivational factorsAlso: CE and MFFollowing a 15-minute motivational factors intervention, a 30-minute calisthenic exercise program was implemented. | Other | MF+CE group |
| Motivational factorsA 15-minute motivational factors intervention was applied. | Other | MF group, MF+CE group |
Primary outcome
DASS-21
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the single 45-minute exercise session
It is scored between 0 and 63. Higher scores indicate higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Cortisol
Time frame: Immediately before the exercise session and 20 minutes after completion of the single exercise session
Blood cortisol concentration will be measured in µg/dL using a standardized laboratory assay. A value of 17 µg/dL is considered a commonly used reference threshold, with values above this level generally indicating higher physiological stress and values below this level indicating lower physiological stress.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Feb 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42010691Kaplan M, Cakar F, Simsek H, Celik M, Ozer MY. The effects of short-term motivational factors and calisthenic exercise on blood cortisol levels, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in young adults: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2026 Apr 20;18(1):259. doi: 10.1186/s13102-026-01699-5.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared because the dataset contains sensitive personal and biological information, and data sharing was not included in the informed consent obtained from participants.
Related trials for Healthy Young Adults
Not yet recruiting
Back Massage Before a Cognitive Task in Healthy Young Adults
Cognitive Performance in Healthy Adults
RecruitingPhase 1
mRNA Vaccine Targeting Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in Healthy Young Adults
EBV
Not yet recruitingPhase 1
Phase 1 Trial to Evaluate Safety and Immunogenicity of MVA-BN-EBV in Healthy Young Adults
Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) Infection
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Associations of Respiratory Muscle Strength and Trunk Muscle Mechanical Properties With Dynamic Postural Control
Postural Control, Muscle Tonus
Not yet recruiting
Behaviour Change Wheel Intervention to Promote Healthy Behaviors in Adults With Prehypertension
Prehypertension
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Calisthenic exercise and Motivational factors and Motivational factors in people with Healthy Young Adults, run by Bingol University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
DASS-21 (time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the single 45-minute exercise session). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07398729, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Feb 2026.