Mood changes in individuals who regularly participate in various forms of physical activity

Abstract

PurposeA number of mental and physical benefits arise from leading an active lifestyle. Many forms of therapies make use of physical activity to reinforce rehabilitation as well as improve the condition of the body and mind. It is in this way that an individual can improve their well-being through cleansing the body of negative emotions and seek inner harmony, which is one of the most important features of mental health. However, the question arises whether all forms of physical activity improve the emotional state of an individual in the same way. A qualitative change in mood may be in fact related to the methodical factors present in physical activity (the type of exercise, the training method or its intensity and frequency) but also an instructor’s personality, the age and gender of the participant as well as their physical fitness and motor skills, the subject’s current social and mental state, environmental factors or other factors related to everyday life such as work, family, etc. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in mood of physically active and highly fit people, aged 22–25 years, after various forms of physical activity and with different training methodologies.MethodsThe Mood Adjective Check List (UMACL) was administered to 84 students before and after completing a course in a number of physical activities. Statistical methods were then applied to the results to measure the size of the differences and for any statistical significance.ResultsThe results found that regardless of the form of physical activity or class duration, there was a positive change in the mood of participants. Differences in size of the changes, when compared to the forms of physical activity and gender, were not found.ConclusionsThe improvement in mood of fit and regularly physically active adults is observed regardless what form of physical activity is practiced.