Physical Activity Mental Health Research Articles

Is there a need for mental health informed goal setting in physical activity?

Goals are standard practice when promoting physical activity for mental health and wellbeing and for the management of mental health disorders. While there are benefits of setting physical activity goals, there are also known risks, side-effects, and detrimental outcomes. We illustrate how these can potentially exacerbate mental health symptoms. Given the high rates of mental health disorders worldwide, we argue that mental health informed goal setting is needed in physical activity and may be relevant to hundreds of millions of people worldwide. We present recommendations for setting mental health informed physical activity goals to minimise/avoid the risks of exacerbating mental health symptoms as well as maximising benefits for both physical and mental health.

EFEITOS DA PRÁTICA DE EXERCÍCIOS FÍSICOS NA MELHORIA DA SAÚDE MENTAL

Introduction: Physical exercise is widely recognized by health professionals as an excellent ally in promoting quality of life and well-being. With both biological and psychological effects, it can be an exceptional therapy used alongside medications to treat mental disorders. Objective: The present study aims to explore the effects of physical exercise in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders. Method: This work is an integrative literature review that included original and review articles in order to select relevant information for the outcome of this research. Results: The results obtained through this review demonstrated that regular physical exercise has a significant impact on mental health, greatly contributing to the reduction of symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. The ability to cope with stressful situations can be further enhanced through physical activities. Conclusion: Physical exercise triggers the release of neurotransmitters associated with feelings of pleasure and relaxation, such as serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. The benefits of physical activity for mental health are numerous, positioning it as a crucial tool in the prevention and treatment of disorders like depression and anxiety.

Parental physical activity, parental mental health, children's physical activity, and children's mental health.

The benefits of physical activity for mental health and well-being and the associations between parental mental health and children's mental health have been well established. These important issues tend to be examined separately however, and there is limited research on the associations between parent and child physical activity and mental health when all considered together. While family focused practice is recommended to provide support for parents who have mental health problems and their families and includes various components (such as psychoeducation, support for mental health and parenting), promoting physical activity for parents and children is not usually a core component of these interventions. The Northern Ireland Youth Wellbeing Survey aimed to provide estimates of the prevalence of mental health problems among children and young people. The survey also included questions about parental physical activity, parental mental health, and children's physical activity (for those aged 11-19 years). The main aim of the analysis reported in this article was to explore possible bivariate associations between parent and child physical activity and mental health and also explore these associations when all considered together. Participants were included in the analysis where there were completed interviews for the young person and one of their parents, and both young person and parent provided responses in relation to questions on weekly physical activity (n = 882). The findings highlight the positive associations between parental physical activity and parental mental health, and between children's physical activity and children's mental health. They also explore some of the more complex interactions between these four variables, which suggest that gender may also be an important consideration. There were significant associations between father's physical activity and son's mental health, and son's physical activity and father's mental health. These findings suggest that including support for parental physical activity and children's physical activity should be a routine component of family focused mental health interventions. It is important to acknowledge that there may be additional barriers to engaging in physical activity for families where a parent is experiencing mental health problems, and these should also be explored and addressed.

Mood profile in men and women of all ages is improved by leisure-time physical activity rather than work-related physical activity

BackgroundThe aim of our study was to determine how six mood indicators (vigour, fatigue, depression, anger, confusion, tension) depend on moderate to vigorous physical activity, walking time and sedentary time at work, after working hours and during leisure time, in men and women of different age groups.MethodsA total of 1,140 individuals aged 18 to 64 years participated in the study. The participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional survey using a snowball sampling method. An online questionnaire was shared through popular social networks and emails within the period October 2019 to June 2020. Mood responses were assessed using The Brunel Mood Scale-LTU. Physical activity was assessed using the long International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, a two-way analysis of variance, and linear regression analysis were used to interpret the data.ResultsThe survey results showed that vigour and fatigue correlated significantly only with leisure-time moderate to vigorous physical activity. The present results show a significant positive correlation between women and men moods and leisure-time moderate to vigorous physical activity, the length of time walking to work and back home, and negative correlation between moods and leisure-time sedentary behaviour. However, there was no significant correlation between moods and work-related moderate to vigorous physical activity and household moderate to vigorous physical activity, walking at work, and sitting duration at work.ConclusionsThis study provides theoretical implications of the physical activity paradox, justifying the benefits of moderate to vigorous physical activity practiced in different circumstances. According to the regression analysis, exercising men in all age groups moved the most (had a higher moderate to vigorous physical activity level) during leisure time, the highest work-related moderate to vigorous physical activity was observed in men and women with lower education, and the highest household moderate to vigorous physical activity was observed in older age men and women living in rural areas. Clinicians and leaders at all levels of health care should consider the greater importance of leisure-time physical activity for mental health when choosing the most targeted physical activity recommendations for mood profile improvement in men and women of different age groups.

Physical Activity and Mental Health in Children and Youth: Clinician Perspectives and Practices

BackgroundRates of mental health challenges among children and youth are on the rise. Physical activity has been identified as a promising intervention to improve mental health outcomes for youth.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate how mental health clinicians perceive and utilize physical activity as a mental health intervention for children and adolescents.MethodsSeventy-four Ontario mental health clinicians (psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers) were surveyed about their perspectives and practices related to physical activity as part of mental health care for children and adolescents using a mixed-methods approach. Survey respondents were also asked about barriers to including physical activity in care.ResultsAlthough 100% of clinicians agreed that physical activity was beneficial to their own and to their clients’ mental health, only 61% reported prescribing physical activity to their clients. Barriers to prescribing physical activity as a treatment option included lack of training, time, and resources. Clinicians who were more physically active themselves were more likely to view physical activity as beneficial for mental health and were less likely to view time as a barrier to discussing and prescribing physical activity in their practice. Many clinicians expressed a need for more training, knowledge, and resources.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that with improved access to training and resources, clinicians will be well-positioned to leverage the benefits of physical activity for mental health in their practice.

Global Self-Esteem, Body Composition, and Physical Activity in Polish University Students.

Global self-esteem is a psychological concept that refers to the overall assessment of oneself as a person of value. Body composition is measured by indices such as BMI, BF, and LBM, which have implications for health and self-esteem. Physical activity is associated with numerous health and self-esteem benefits. The purpose of this study focuses on assessing the relationship between global self-esteem, body composition, and physical activity among Polish students. The study was conducted on a group of 305 students between the ages of 19 and 26. The participants were divided into groups according to their level of physical activity. The SES scale by M. Rosenberg assessed the subjects' global self-esteem. The results showed a negative correlation between body weight and BMI and global self-esteem, that is, the higher the body weight, the lower the self-esteem. On the other hand, higher levels of physical activity were associated with higher global self-esteem. The study suggests that maintaining healthy physical activity and body composition can help improve global self-esteem. The study highlights the importance of physical activity for mental health and self-esteem. It is worth encouraging and promoting physical activity among students to support an individual's physical and emotional health. Ultimately, this study may have implications for health policy, education, and intervention for students to emphasize the importance of physical activity for self-esteem and overall health.

A Scoping Review of the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Mental Health Among Immigrants in Western Countries: An Integrated Bio-Psycho-Socio-Cultural Lens.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that regular physical activity (PA) positively impacts individuals' mental health (MH). The PA-MH relationship may be critical among immigrants owing to psycho-social-cultural influences. This scoping review of 61 studies employed a holistic bio-psycho-socio-cultural framework to thoroughly investigate the complex relationship between PA (across life domains) and immigrants' MH in Western countries. A systematic search of five electronic databases (Medline, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Anthropology Plus) was conducted to locate relevant articles. No limitations were applied to study design, age, gender, home country, MH condition or PA type. A bio-psycho-socio-cultural-informed conceptual model guided the analysis of the multi-domain PA-MH relationship. Immigrant PA-MH studies were conducted and reported most commonly in the USA (38%), Australia (18%), and Canada (11%). Overall, PA was positively related to MH. Each domain-specific PA appeared to be associated with unique MH-promoting pathways/mechanisms. Leisure-related PA may support MH by enhancing self-agency and minimizing risky behaviors, whilst travel- and domestic-related PA may promote self-accomplishment and physical engagement. Ethnic sports appeared to enhance resilience. Occupational-related PA was associated with either positive or negative MH, depending on the type of occupation. A bio-psycho-socio-cultural-informed model is required to gain an encompassing and integrated understanding of immigrants' health. The first iteration of such a model is presented here, along with an illustration of how the model may be used to deepen analysis and understanding of the multi-domain PA-MH relationship among immigrants and inform public health planners and practitioners.

The Correlation between Mental Health and Physical Education Instruction in Higher Education Institutions

This study investigates the impact of physical exercise on the psychological well-being of university students. Utilizing a sample from Beijing Sport University, the research employed a questionnaire-based approach, targeting both sports and non-sports students. A total of 800 questionnaires were distributed, with 765 valid responses received. The participants were divided into four sports categories: basketball, football (soccer), tennis, and swimming. Two of these sports were team-based (basketball and football), while the other two were individual sports. The intensity of all exercises was moderate, and the study spanned over a period of two months. Psychological well-being was assessed using the Symptom Self-Assessment Scale (SCL-90), a reliable and valid instrument. Preliminary findings suggest that moderate exercise, especially within a duration of 30-60 minutes, significantly enhances psychological health. However, excessive exercise beyond 60 minutes showed a gradual decline in mental health scores. Gender differences were also observed, with male students exhibiting higher exercise intensity than their female counterparts. The study underscores the importance of moderate physical activity for mental health and calls for personalized sports guidance based on gender preferences.

Physical Activity during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK: A Qualitative Analysis of Free-Text Survey Data.

Several quantitative studies have found a decline in physical activity in response to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The aim of the present study was to use large-scale free text survey data to qualitatively gain a more in-depth understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity, then map barriers and facilitators to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour (COM-B) Model of Behaviour to aid future intervention development. 17,082 participants provided a response to the free text module, and data from those who mentioned a physical activity related word in any context were included. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and key themes identified. 5396 participants provided 7490 quotes related to physical activity. The sample were predominately female (84%), white (British/Irish/Other) (97%) and aged <60 years (57%). Seven key themes were identified: the importance of outdoor space, changes in daily routine, COVID-19 restrictions prevented participation, perceived risks or threats to participation, the importance of physical health, the importance of physical activity for mental health and the use of technology. Future physical activity interventions could encourage people to walk outdoors, which is low cost, flexible, and accessible to many. Developing online resources to promote and support physical activity provides a flexible way to deliver quality content to a large audience.

Lifestyle in Obese Individuals during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Stay-at-home orders in response to the Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic have forced abrupt changes to daily routines. The aim of this study is to describe the behavior of lifestyles of individuals with obesity on the waiting list for bariatric surgery in the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of University of Foggia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: From June 2020 to December 2020 an online survey format was administered to all the patients (n = 52) enrolled for bariatric surgery subjects with obesity, to obtain information about the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on patients with obesity starting 9 March 2020 until 18 May 2020. Results: Our data showed that 58% of patients stated that the pandemic negatively affected their mood, 60% of patients confirmed that they changed their dietary behaviors during the stay-at-home period, as they consumed more unhealthy foods or spent less time cooking home cooked meals. In addition, 71% of patients stated that the closure of the gyms worsened their obesity condition and their mental well-being with an increase of a feeling of anxiety. Conclusions: Results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on health behaviors, including quality of life, mental health physical activity, weight maintenance, and consumption of sweets in obese patients.

P02-17 Promoting physical activity for mental health in the EU: Development and implementation of practice guidelines from the SPHERE EU project 2019-2020

Issue/problemDespite physical activity having an established evidence base for mental health problems there is mixed practice across the EU regarding its role in the support of mental health problems. The SPHERE EU project (Sport Healing Rehabilitation; 2019-2020 http://www.ecos-europe.com/sphere/erasmus-project/) was established to draw together academics, practitioners and psychiatrists, to develop practical guidelines and case study examples for their implementation.Description of the problemTo support the use of physical activity for mental health promotion, a critical review of evidence was conducted to inform the development of Practice Guidelines with case study examples of practice.Results (effects/changes)Practice Guidelines include 17 recommendations relating to physiological, psychological and social dimensions of mental health rehabilitation. The presentation will outline the practical, evidence-based guidelines designed for practitioners and evaluators which can be used to support the use of physical activity for mental health in the EU.LessonsPractical, evidence-based guidelines for practice must be flexible to allow for individual differences and preferences, settings (clinical or community), and facility and equipment availability. This aim of these Guidelines are to enable professionals involved in health enhancing physical activity for mental health to have that evidence translated into practice, in a form that can be transferred to their setting and country.Main messagesDespite physical activity being widely understood to have an important role in the lives of people with mental health problems and other common co-morbidities for this population group, guidelines remain scarce. The SPHERE project has addressed this dearth and provides practical and pragmatic recommendations for physical activity for people with mental health problems in the future.

Promoting physical activity for mental health: an updated evidence review and practical guide.

The aim of this study was to provide psychiatrists with the knowledge, tools and guidance to support physical activity promotion in clinical practice. The review also aims to provide an up-to-date summary of the evidence regarding physical activity in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders in adults. There is emerging evidence demonstrating that physical activity can protect against incident anxiety and depression. There is robust evidence showing that physical activity is an effective adjunct treatment strategy for depressive disorders and anxiety and stress-related disorders, with emerging evidence for schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Translation of this evidence into practice is in general ad hoc, and large physical health disparities for people with mental disorders persist. The reasons for this are multifactorial, and include the intersection of social, economic and personal barriers to physical activity. Evidence-based approaches include regular screening of physical activity levels, staff culture change within mental health services and established referral pathways. Translation of evidence regarding physical activity for mental health into routine programmes is critical. Efforts to move beyond solely targeting individual-level barriers to physical activity and address systemic barriers include lack of access to appropriate exercise services. This requires consideration of training needs, service structure and culture change.

Are exercise programs relevant in psychiatric wards?

IntroductionAbout 3% of the general population suffers from Severe Mental Illness (SMI), including schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar and major depressive disorders. In this group, the rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome are approximately twice as high as the general population and the life expectancy is 13-30 years inferior compared to age and sex matched controls, greatly due to medical comorbidities. Low levels of physical activity (PA) and low fitness are likely to play a role.ObjectivesTo review the evidence about the effects of PA on physical health markers and psychiatric clinical symptoms of SMI patients.MethodsWe performed a literature review on the impact of exercise programs in physical and mental health of SMI patients using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases.Results Several studies demonstrate that PA improves a variety of physical health markers in SMI patients, such as body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, cardiorespiratory fitness, systolic blood pressure and HDL cholesterol. In parallel, there is evidence to support the benefit of PA in mental health, especially due to its effect on mood. Furthermore, PA promotes cognitive functioning, sleep quality, quality of life, self-esteem and fosters social interaction. Moreover, in patients with schizophrenia, exercise seems to decrease negative symptoms.ConclusionsImplementation of regular physical activities in psychiatric wards should be considered whenever possible, due to its positive effects on physical and mental health. The adoption of structured exercise programs in psychiatric wards is feasible, safe, and well-received by patients.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Effects of Nutritional Health Risk and Physical Activity on Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults

PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study examined the combined effects of nutritional health risk and physical activity on depressive symptoms in a representative sample of older adults aged 65 years and older (4,116 men and 5,154 women) from the 2020 Korea Longitudinal Study of Aging.METHODS: Nutritional health risk was categorized as good, moderate, and high according to the Nutrition Screening Initiative. Physical activity was assessed using a questionnaire. Depression was assessed using the Short Form of Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS).RESULTS: There were significant age differences (p&lt;.001), education level (p&lt;.001), marital status (p&lt;.001), and SDGS (p&lt;.001) according to nutritional health risk or physical activity status. In particular, a general linear model (GLM) showed a significant interaction (R2=.239, F(2,9849)=5.582, p&lt;.004) between nutritional health risk and physical activity on SGDS-based depressive symptoms. The antidepressant effect of regular physical activity was observed in individuals with good or moderate nutritional health risks. However, such beneficial effects of physical activity were not observed in individuals with high nutritional health risks.CONCLUSIONS: The current findings of this study suggest that both good nutrition and physical activity for mental health should be emphasized in older adults, with a greater focus on nutrition for those with a high nutritional health risk.

Implementing experience-based co-design to develop a physical activity programme in recovery-focused outpatient mental health services

Background/Aims As mental health services focus on recovery orientated service delivery, there is a need to adopt recovery orientated approaches in interventions that promote physical activity. This article presents a process of using and modifying an experience-based co-design approach to develop an intervention that can be used to promote physical activity in mental health services: the ‘Move with Recovery’ programme. Methods A facilitated experience-based co-design approach was undertaken over four sessions. This approach included the use of a trigger film of touchpoints and sample physical activity experiences of service users, in addition to the use of a storyboard for emotional mapping and prioritising exercises. The final two co-design sessions involved programme prototyping and development using the TIDieR framework. Results The outcome of this process, the Move with Recovery programme, was a peer-developed and peer-led, community-focused programme structured around nine action points. It is made up of a combination of motivation, education and support sessions, together with light intensity aerobic activity sessions that is structured using the TIDieR framework, and intended for implementation in the recovery college. In this regard, the developed programme is inherently recovery orientated in its design and its aim. Conclusions The developed programme can be embedded into existing mental health services that lack integrated exercise resources. This articles details the experience-based co-design process undertaken here and offers future learning for using experience-based co-design to promote physical activity in mental health.

The Importance of Physical Activity for Mental Health

The Importance of Physical Activity for Mental Health Abstract. Due to the worldwide high prevalence of psychiatric disorders and its association with sedentary behavior and comorbid physical diseases, increasing physical activity in psychiatric populations is of high importance. Regular physical activity is associated with increased mental wellbeing and has shown to have preventive effects on depression, anxiety disorders and probably sleep disorders. Additionally, positive effects on comorbid chronic physical diseases have been found. Exercise as treatment for several weeks has shown to have an antidepressant effect. Similar positive effects on symptoms have been found in anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. Therefore, assessing and promoting physical activity is advisable in clinical psychiatric practice. Patients should be coached to reach at least a weekly average of 150 minutes of moderate and/or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity. Establishing physical activity and exercise groups is of utmost importance for psychiatric outpatients.

What Does Cochrane Say About … Exercise and Physical Activity for Mental Health?

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Exploring the public health potential of RED January, a social media campaign supporting physical activity in the community for mental health: A qualitative study

Statement of problemRED January is an annual social media campaign challenging individuals to be physically active every day during January, and highlighting the potential for improvements in mood and wellbeing. Our aim was to explore elements of the challenge that motivate engagement with, and sustained participation in, physical activity for mental health. MethodRED January registrants (n = 55,772, female = 45,802; 82%) were invited to take part. Volunteers supplied information on sex, age band and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the past week. Forty registrants (24 female), recruited in December 2019 using a purposive sampling approach to identify a maximum-variation sample, participated in semi-structured interviews (31 face-to-face) after completing the challenge. The resulting transcripts were thematically analysed, using the Framework method. ResultsTwo main themes relating to motivation were identified. ‘Pleasure’ referred to how daily activity promoted physical enjoyment and positive affective states via engaging with the environment, finding mental space and peace, and enjoyable social interactions. ‘Purpose’ referred to the experiences of engaging with the campaign, and observed changes in health outcomes. These included setting flexible and appropriate goals, measuring and reviewing progress, noting wider biological and behavioural changes, and receiving support from the social media community. Points for consideration were feelings of failure when not achieving self-imposed targets, the unintended facilitation of obsessive exercising, and social media posts that triggered negative thoughts among a minority of participants. ConclusionsFindings suggest RED January may have potential as a public health resource. The challenge might not suit individuals with severe disorders.

Levels of Physical Activity and Mental Health in Adolescents in Ireland.

The benefits of physical activity for the physical health of individuals are well documented. Less is known about the benefits of physical activity for mental health. This paper explores the associations between physical activity and positive mental health and mental health problems. The paper utilises data collected from a representative sample of 10–17-year-old adolescents in Ireland. Physical activity in the study is measured using moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA). Mental health was measured using the Cantril Leader of Life Satisfaction, the WHO-5 index, Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5) and the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) Symptom Checklist (HBSC-SCL). Data were analysed using bivariate (Pearson Correlation, t-test, one-way ANOVA) and multivariate (two-way ANOVA, ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions) analyses. In total, 8636 adolescents were included in this analysis. Higher participation in physical activity was associated with higher scores on the positive mental health indicators and lower scores on the mental health problems indicators. When modelled together, VPA was a stronger predictor of mental health than MVPA, especially in girls. For example, standardised beta coefficients for predicting MHI-5 were −0.09 for MVPA (p < 0.001) and −0.13 for VPA (p < 0.001) To our knowledge, this is the first study that looks at levels of physical activity as well as both positive mental health and mental health problems. The study highlights the need to encourage and enable adolescents, and especially girls, to participate in vigorous exercising as way of promoting positive mental health.

Prescribing Physical Activity in Mental Health: A Focused Review on the Latest Evidence, Recommendations, Challenges, and Relevance to India.

Prescribing Physical Activity in Mental Health: A Focused Review on the Latest Evidence, Recommendations, Challenges, and Relevance to India.