EXERCISE AND MENTAL HEALTH
DANIEL M. LANDERS
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
The research literature derived from hundreds of studies with thousands
of subjects now indicates that there is considerable evidence to support
the claim that exercise is related to a relief in symptoms of depression
and anxiety. However, more research in needed to determine if this
overall relationship is causal and there is also a need to further examine
some of the variables that are believed to moderate or explain the overall
relationship. For other variables related to positive mental health
the initial quantitative reviews of the literature have shown evidence
that is promising. At the present time, it appears that aerobic exercise
enhances physical self-concept and self-esteem, produces more restful sleep,
and helps people recover more quickly from psycho-social stressors.
None of these relationships are the result of a single study. They
are based on most, if not all, of the available research in the English
language. The overall positive pattern of findings for these variables
lends greater confidence that exercise has an important role to play in
promoting sound mental health.
An abstract of this keynote presentation was published in Proceedings
of the 6th International Congress on Physical Education and Sport--"Exercise
& Society: Journal of Sports Science," May, 1998, p. 60. Komotini,
Greece: Department of Physical Education & Sport Science, Democritus
University of Thrace.