Mental Health and Psychological Well-BeingNCT07906574
Effects of Swimming and Tennis on Mental Health, Fatigue, and Sleep in Young Women
A study testing Swimming Exercise and Tennis Exercise in people with Mental Health and Psychological Well-Being and Fatigue, run by Fahri Safa Çınarlı at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study compared the effects of swimming and tennis on mental health, fatigue, and sleep quality in young women who were not regularly physically active. A total of 34 women aged 18-25 years were randomly assigned to either a swimming group or a tennis group. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Health and Psychological Well-Being, Fatigue, Sleep Quality
- What is being tested?
- Swimming Exercise and Tennis Exercise
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 34 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 5 Aug 2026to 4 Oct 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
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Female participants aged 18-25 years.
- No regular participation in structured exercise during the preceding six months.
- Low physical activity level, defined as less than 600 MET-min/week according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF).
- Ability to safely participate in swimming and tennis exercise, including basic swimming skills.
- Provision of written informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Diagnosed cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, or other medical conditions that could contraindicate exercise participation.
- Diagnosed psychiatric disorders or ongoing psychiatric treatment that could substantially influence the study outcomes.
- Regular use of medications known to affect sleep or psychological status.
- Pregnancy.
- Any other condition that could prevent regular participation in the intervention programs.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Comparative Effects of Swimming and Tennis on Psychological Health, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Physically Inactive Young Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This study compared the effects of swimming and tennis on mental health, fatigue, and sleep quality in young women who were not regularly physically active.
A total of 34 women aged 18-25 years were randomly assigned to either a swimming group or a tennis group. Both groups participated in supervised exercise sessions lasting 45 minutes, three times per week, for eight weeks.
Read more
Participants completed questionnaires before and after the exercise programs to assess anxiety, depressive symptoms, psychological well-being, perceived stress, fatigue, and sleep quality.
Thirty participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether swimming and tennis had different effects on psychological health, fatigue, and sleep quality in physically inactive young women.
Read the detailed description
This study was conducted as a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of swimming and tennis exercise on psychological health, fatigue, and sleep quality in physically inactive young women.
Women aged 18-25 years who had not regularly participated in structured exercise during the preceding six months were eligible for inclusion. Participants were required to have low physical activity levels, defined as less than 600 MET-min/week according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and to be capable of safely performing both swimming and tennis activities.
Following baseline assessments, 34 participants were randomly allocated to swimming or tennis in a 1:1 ratio (17 participants per group), using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Group assignments were concealed until completion of baseline assessments.
Both intervention groups completed an eight-week supervised exercise program consisting of three 45-minute sessions per week. Each session included a five-minute warm-up, a 35-minute main exercise phase, and a five-minute cool-down. The swimming program primarily involved freestyle swimming with progressive changes in swimming distance and recovery intervals. The tennis program included forehand and backhand exercises, footwork drills, and controlled rallies with progressively increasing difficulty. Exercise intensity was monitored using the Borg CR10 Rating of Perceived Exertion scale.
Psychological health and related outcomes were assessed using six validated questionnaires: the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Baseline assessments were conducted two days before the first exercise session, and post-intervention assessments were completed 48 hours after the final session. Four participants withdrew during the study, leaving 30 participants (15 per group) in the final analysis.
The study was designed to examine whether the two exercise modalities produced different changes in psychological health, fatigue, and sleep quality when exercise frequency, session duration, and progression of perceived exertion were comparable.
- Being tested
- Swimming Exercise, Tennis Exercise
- Keywords
- Exercise modality, mental health, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, young women
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being, Fatigue, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Depression
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Swimming ExerciseBehavioural
Supervised swimming exercise, three sessions per week for eight weeks, with 45 minutes per session and progressively increasing exercise difficulty.
Tennis ExerciseBehavioural
Supervised tennis exercise, three sessions per week for eight weeks, with 45 minutes per session and progressively increasing exercise difficulty.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming | Experimental | Participants assigned to the swimming group completed an eight-week supervised swimming program consisting of 45-minute sessions three times per week. The program primarily included freestyle swimming, progressive swimming distances, and structured recovery intervals. Receives: Behavioral: Swimming Exercise |
| Tennis | Experimental | Participants assigned to the tennis group completed an eight-week supervised tennis program consisting of 45-minute sessions three times per week. The program included forehand and backhand drills, footwork exercises, and controlled rallies with progressively increasing difficulty. Receives: Behavioral: Tennis Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Depressive Symptoms Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Depressive symptoms were assessed using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Each item is scored from 0 to 3, giving a total score ranging from 0 to 27. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Change in Perceived Stress Measured by the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10)
Perceived stress was assessed using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Each item is scored from 0 to 4, with four positively worded items reverse-scored. Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Change in Anxiety Symptoms Measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Each item is scored from 0 to 3, producing a total score ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety symptom severity. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Change in Psychological Well-Being Measured by the WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5)
Psychological well-being was assessed using the WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). The five items are scored from 0 to 5. The raw total score (0-25) is multiplied by four to obtain a score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better psychological well-being. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; positive values indicate improvement.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Change in Fatigue Measured by the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS)
Fatigue was assessed using the 11-item Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), covering physical and mental fatigue. Each item was scored from 0 to 3, producing a total score ranging from 0 to 33. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue severity. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Change in Sleep Quality Measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which evaluates seven components of sleep over the preceding month. The global score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
Measured: Baseline and Week 8
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Oct 2026
- Study start5 Aug 2026
- Primary completion4 Oct 2026
- Study completion4 Oct 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mental Health and Psychological Well-BeingStudies 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Fahri Safa Çınarlı
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Fahri Safa Çınarlı, Inonu University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07906574
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026/9796
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 18 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 30 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparative Effects of Swimming and Tennis on Psychological Health, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality in Physically Inactive Young Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07906574
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2026/9796
- Keywords
- Exercise modality, mental health, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, young women
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 34 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Fahri Safa ÇınarlıUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 5 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 4 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 4 Oct 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 30 Oct 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.
This study compared the effects of swimming and tennis on mental health, fatigue, and sleep quality in young women who were not regularly physically active.
A total of 34 women aged 18-25 years were randomly assigned to either a swimming group or a tennis group. Both groups participated in supervised exercise sessions lasting 45 minutes, three times per week, for eight weeks.
Participants completed questionnaires before and after the exercise programs to assess anxiety, depressive symptoms, psychological well-being, perceived stress, fatigue, and sleep quality.
Thirty participants completed the study and were included in the final analysis.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether swimming and tennis had different effects on psychological health, fatigue, and sleep quality in physically inactive young women.
Detailed description
This study was conducted as a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of swimming and tennis exercise on psychological health, fatigue, and sleep quality in physically inactive young women.
Women aged 18-25 years who had not regularly participated in structured exercise during the preceding six months were eligible for inclusion. Participants were required to have low physical activity levels, defined as less than 600 MET-min/week according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and to be capable of safely performing both swimming and tennis activities.
Following baseline assessments, 34 participants were randomly allocated to swimming or tennis in a 1:1 ratio (17 participants per group), using a computer-generated randomization sequence. Group assignments were concealed until completion of baseline assessments.
Both intervention groups completed an eight-week supervised exercise program consisting of three 45-minute sessions per week. Each session included a five-minute warm-up, a 35-minute main exercise phase, and a five-minute cool-down. The swimming program primarily involved freestyle swimming with progressive changes in swimming distance and recovery intervals. The tennis program included forehand and backhand exercises, footwork drills, and controlled rallies with progressively increasing difficulty. Exercise intensity was monitored using the Borg CR10 Rating of Perceived Exertion scale.
Psychological health and related outcomes were assessed using six validated questionnaires: the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Baseline assessments were conducted two days before the first exercise session, and post-intervention assessments were completed 48 hours after the final session. Four participants withdrew during the study, leaving 30 participants (15 per group) in the final analysis.
The study was designed to examine whether the two exercise modalities produced different changes in psychological health, fatigue, and sleep quality when exercise frequency, session duration, and progression of perceived exertion were comparable.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming | Experimental | Behavioral: Swimming ExerciseParticipants assigned to the swimming group completed an eight-week supervised swimming program consisting of 45-minute sessions three times per week. The program primarily included freestyle swimming, progressive swimming distances, and structured recovery intervals. |
| Tennis | Experimental | Behavioral: Tennis ExerciseParticipants assigned to the tennis group completed an eight-week supervised tennis program consisting of 45-minute sessions three times per week. The program included forehand and backhand drills, footwork exercises, and controlled rallies with progressively increasing difficulty. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Female participants aged 18-25 years.
- No regular participation in structured exercise during the preceding six months.
- Low physical activity level, defined as less than 600 MET-min/week according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF).
- Ability to safely participate in swimming and tennis exercise, including basic swimming skills.
- Provision of written informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Diagnosed cardiovascular, neurological, musculoskeletal, or other medical conditions that could contraindicate exercise participation.
- Diagnosed psychiatric disorders or ongoing psychiatric treatment that could substantially influence the study outcomes.
- Regular use of medications known to affect sleep or psychological status.
- Pregnancy.
- Any other condition that could prevent regular participation in the intervention programs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming ExerciseSupervised swimming exercise, three sessions per week for eight weeks, with 45 minutes per session and progressively increasing exercise difficulty. | Behavioural | Swimming |
| Tennis ExerciseSupervised tennis exercise, three sessions per week for eight weeks, with 45 minutes per session and progressively increasing exercise difficulty. | Behavioural | Tennis |
Primary outcome
Change in Depressive Symptoms Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Depressive symptoms were assessed using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Each item is scored from 0 to 3, giving a total score ranging from 0 to 27. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
Change in Perceived Stress Measured by the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Perceived stress was assessed using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Each item is scored from 0 to 4, with four positively worded items reverse-scored. Total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater perceived stress. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
Change in Anxiety Symptoms Measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Each item is scored from 0 to 3, producing a total score ranging from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety symptom severity. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
Change in Psychological Well-Being Measured by the WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Psychological well-being was assessed using the WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5). The five items are scored from 0 to 5. The raw total score (0-25) is multiplied by four to obtain a score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better psychological well-being. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; positive values indicate improvement.
Change in Fatigue Measured by the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Fatigue was assessed using the 11-item Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS), covering physical and mental fatigue. Each item was scored from 0 to 3, producing a total score ranging from 0 to 33. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue severity. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
Change in Sleep Quality Measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 8
Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which evaluates seven components of sleep over the preceding month. The global score ranges from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. Change was calculated as the post-intervention score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.
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 30 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. The data supporting the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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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 Swimming Exercise and Tennis Exercise in people with Mental Health and Psychological Well-Being and Fatigue, run by Fahri Safa Çınarlı 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 5 inclusion and 5 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 30 Oct 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?
Change in Depressive Symptoms Measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (time frame: Baseline and Week 8). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 30 Oct 2026.