Abstract
The scientific literature on mental health has found an association between physical activity and emotional wellbeing and recommends active leisure activities as a way of keeping stress under control. The purpose of this research study is to analyze the level of anxiety, the symptoms of depression and the level of self-esteem of people practicing speleology, as well as possible gender differences. This paper also attempts to understand whether self-esteem is associated with the presence of symptoms of depression in speleologists and whether anxiety has a mediating effect. We conduct a cross-sectional and descriptive research study with a sampling of 105 adult speleologists. The results reveal that the total mediation model is applicable, as self-esteem has a significant indirect association with depression through trait anxiety, as well as a partial mediation model that is applicable through state anxiety. This means that speleologists with high levels of self-esteem, who appreciate and value themselves adequately, reveal lower levels of trait anxiety, and this negatively influences their levels of depression (that is, a lower level of depressive symptoms). At the same time, speleologists with high levels of self-esteem, who appreciate and value themselves adequately, also reveal lower levels of state anxiety, which again has a negative impact on their levels of depression (with fewer symptoms of depression). Emotions such as anxiety, self-esteem, depression and their collateral effects are international topics of interest, which are relevant for people from all sporting backgrounds; therefore, value should be placed on supporting and carrying out further research into this topic.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilOne of the major challenges for psychology in the 21st century is in extending its scope of action and studying the mechanisms that prevent poor health and promote good heath, with the purpose of promoting resources and quality of life in the population [1].In this respect, interest in the study of motivation and adherence to physical exercise in relation to a global healthy lifestyle has been increasing [2,3]
The male standard sample (n = 295; M = 20.54; SD = 10.56), which reveals that male speleologists suffer lower levels of State Anxiety
In the case of female speleologists, there are differences that are statistically significant (t = −2.984; df = 400; p = 0.003) between the female speleologist sample (M = 17.16; SD = 11.84) and the male standard sample (n = 365; M = 23.30; SD = 11.93), which reveals that female speleologists suffer from lower levels of State Anxiety
Summary
One of the major challenges for psychology in the 21st century is in extending its scope of action and studying the mechanisms that prevent poor health and promote good heath, with the purpose of promoting resources and quality of life in the population [1] In this respect, interest in the study of motivation and adherence to physical exercise in relation to a global healthy lifestyle has been increasing [2,3]. The multifaceted and dynamic concept of wellbeing is closely associated with health, including subjective, social and psychological dimensions [1] This concept directly relates physical/sports activities to the generation of positive emotional states that relate to psychological wellbeing [5]. Physical activity presents itself as a special iations
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