Tai chi and mental health: research overview

Not medical advice. This page lists research about tai chi and mental health. It does not say whether tai chi works for any person or condition. Talk to a qualified health professional before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have a medical condition.

Studies in PubMed

38 (tagged with “Mental Health” as a major topic)

Years

2008–2026

Registered trials

0 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Types of studies

Each study is counted once, under its strongest type in this order: meta-analysis, systematic review, randomized controlled trial, clinical trial, review, observational study.

Studies, newest first

1. Comparison of the 24-Style Tai Chi intervention based on various promotion approaches on college students' mental health: A randomized controlled trial. — PloS one, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
2. Effects of Tai Chi on Mental Health in college students: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. — Frontiers in public health, 2026 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
3. Impact of digital Tai Chi interventions on the physical and mental health of older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2026 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
4. Mind-body exercise for improving balance, aerobic capacity, walking ability, muscle strength, and mental health in patients with type 2 diabetes: a network meta-analysis. — Frontiers in endocrinology, 2026 · DOISystematic Review
5. Piano performers' experiences of Tai Chi for physical comfort and mental well-being: a qualitative study. — International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being, 2026 · DOI
6. Psychological health outcomes of traditional Chinese exercises in older adults: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. — PeerJ, 2026 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
7. The Effects of 8-week Dance and Tai Chi Randomized Controlled Trial on Balance, Wellbeing and Moods Among Healthy Adults Aged 18 to 60: A Study Protocol. — Journal of dance medicine & science : official publication of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, 2026 · DOI
8. The effect of Tai Chi exercise on physical and psychological health of college students with persistent fatigue after COVID-19 infection: A randomized controlled trial. — Public health, 2026 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
9. A comparative study between mindfulness-enhanced exercise training with tai chi and resistance training for college students' mental health: Efficacy, trajectories, and mechanisms. — Applied psychology. Health and well-being, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
10. Effects of physical exercise on physical and mental health in older adults with gait disorders: A systematic review. — Geriatric nursing (New York, N.Y.), 2025 · DOISystematic Review
11. Impact of Tai Chi on Physical and Mental Well-being in Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. — American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 2025 · DOISystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
12. Tai Chi as a preventive intervention for improving mental and physical health in non-depressed college students with high perceived stress. — Frontiers in public health, 2025 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
13. The influence and mechanism of Taichi Chuan on improving mental health in adolescents: The chained mediating effect of meaning in life and psychological resilience. — Acta psychologica, 2025 · DOI
14. Effects of Standard Tai Chi on Exercise Capacity and Mental Health in Exercise-Deprived Overweight/Obese Adults and Assessment of Participant Adherence. — Chinese journal of integrative medicine, 2024 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
15. Effects of different Chinese traditional exercises on sleep quality and mental health of adults: systematic review and meta-analysis. — Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 2024 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
16. Effects of mind-body exercise on physical ability, mental health and quality of life in stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2024 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
17. Effectiveness of mental health interventions for older adults in South Asia: A scoping review. — PloS one, 2023 · DOI
18. Effects of traditional Chinese exercises on mental health in individuals with drug rehabilitee: A systematic review and meta-analysis. — Frontiers in public health, 2022 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
19. Effects of wheelchair Tai Chi ball exercise on physical and mental health and functional abilities among elderly with physical disability. — Research in sports medicine (Print), 2021 · DOI
20. Global mental health and schizophrenia. — Current opinion in psychiatry, 2018 · DOIReview
21. Does Tai Chi improve psychological well-being and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease and/or cardiovascular risk factors? A systematic review protocol. — BMJ open, 2017 · DOI
22. Evidence and Feasibility of Implementing an Integrated Wellness Program in Northeast Georgia. — Health & social work, 2017 · DOIReview
23. Mindfulness is associated with psychological health and moderates pain in knee osteoarthritis. — Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 2017 · DOI
24. The Mind Body-Wellness in Supportive Housing (Mi-WiSH) study: Design and rationale of a cluster randomized controlled trial of Tai Chi in senior housing. — Contemporary clinical trials, 2017 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
25. Effects of wheelchair Tai Chi on physical and mental health among elderly with disability. — Research in sports medicine (Print), 2016 · DOI
26. The Role of Tai Chi in Mental Health Management-Lessons Learned from Clinical Trials. — Reviews on recent clinical trials, 2016
27. Effectiveness of Tai Chi on Physical and Psychological Health of College Students: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. — PloS one, 2015 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
28. Effectiveness of a Tai Chi intervention for improving functional fitness and general health among ethnically diverse older adults with self-reported arthritis living in low-income neighborhoods: a cohort study. — Journal of geriatric physical therapy (2001), 2015 · DOIClinical Trial
29. Study on community Tai Chi Chuan participants' leisure benefits and well-being: Using Taoyuan City as an example. — Technology and health care : official journal of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine, 2015 · DOI
30. The effectiveness of Tai Chi on the physical and psychological well-being of college students: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — Trials, 2014 · DOIRandomized Controlled Trial
31. The impact of exercise on the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. — Ageing research reviews, 2014 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
32. Relationships between flow experience, IKIGAI, and sense of coherence in Tai chi practitioners. — Holistic nursing practice, 2013 · DOI
33. Changes in mindfulness, well-being, and sleep quality in college students through taijiquan courses: a cohort control study. — Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.), 2011 · DOI
34. Tai Chi on psychological well-being: systematic review and meta-analysis. — BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2010 · DOIMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
35. [Effects of Tai Chi exercise on physical and mental health]. — Nihon eiseigaku zasshi. Japanese journal of hygiene, 2010Review
36. The health benefits of tai chi. This gentle form of exercise can prevent or ease many ills of aging and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life. — Harvard women's health watch, 2009
37. Tai Chi exercise and the improvement of health and well-being in older adults. — Medicine and sport science, 2008 · DOI
38. Tai Chi exercise and the improvement of mental and physical health among college students. — Medicine and sport science, 2008 · DOI

Government health information

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health summarizes the evidence on tai chi.

Study list: PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), citation data only. Trials: ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved 2026-10-22.

Data: PubMed (NLM citation data, free to use (abstracts not reproduced)); ClinicalTrials.gov (Public domain (U.S. Government work)); NCCIH (Public domain (U.S. Government work)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.