How exercise helps keep both body and mind healthy
Exercise is not just good for physical health, it can also boost your mental health, say experts. A new study has explored psychosocial factors that may help to explain the connection between physical activity and mental health. Karin Monshouwer of the Trimbos Institute in the Netherlands specifically wanted to examine two existing explanations for the link between exercise and mental health.
The self-image hypothesis suggests that physical activity has positive effects on body weight and body structure, leading to
positive feedback from peers and an improved self-image, which ultimately improves mental health. The social interaction hypothesis, on the other hand, holds that it’s the social aspects of physical activity — such as social relationships and mutual support among team members — that contribute to the positive effects of exercise on mental health.
Over 7,000 people participated in the survey, which assessed their physical activity, mental health problems, body weight perception, and participation in organised sports.
Researchers found that people who were physically inactive or who perceived their bodies as either ‘too fat’ or ‘too thin’ were at greater risk for both internalising
problems (e.g., depression, anxiety) and externalising problems (e.g., aggression, substance abuse). People who participated in organised sports, on the other hand, were at lower risk for mental health problems.
Be active and stay happy
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