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Physical activity is vital for treating and preventing physical diseases and certain psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety. Yet, alongside its benefits, it can also lead to mental health issues such as excessive exercise and overtraining syndrome. Despite increasing research, the exact mechanisms behind the positive and negative impacts of exercise on mental health remain unclear. This article reviews the link between physical activity and mental well-being, focusing on its effects on mood.
Various medical organizations, including the CDC and ACSM, advocate for regular physical activity to enhance public health, citing its benefits in preventing and treating conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. They recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on most days. Research suggests that physical activity can also positively impact mental health by potentially treating and preventing psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. However, intense physical activity may pose risks to mental well-being. Understanding this relationship is crucial for psychologists and psychiatrists in utilizing exercise as a therapeutic tool while also addressing potential negative effects.
The method involved a systematic search for studies examining the link between physical activity and mental health, specifically focusing on mood and depression. Human-based studies in English from 1990 to 2002 were selected from the Medline database using keywords such as “sports,” “exercise,” “mood,” and “depression,” resulting in 762 references. Titles and abstracts were screened, yielding 87 relevant references. Exclusions included studies not primarily focused on the relationship between mood and exercise, as well as those concerning athletic injuries, drug use, and other non-related topics. Additional sources such as bibliographic references in selected articles and relevant books were consulted. Information on exercise physiology and its effects on non-psychiatric disorders was obtained from the ACSM position stand on exercise and cardiovascular/muscular fitness.
Regular physical activity has long been associated with improved mental health, particularly in individuals with depressive and anxiety symptoms, as confirmed by recent studies. It also enhances the quality of life for patients with non-psychiatric conditions and aids in alleviating various symptoms such as nicotine withdrawal and menopause.
While regular exercise generally benefits mood, the relationship appears to be complex and not universal. Although individuals without psychiatric symptoms who exercise regularly tend to have better moods, the association between mood improvement and long-term physical activity in normal individuals is inconsistent. Nonetheless, exercise has been linked to improved self-esteem, vitality, and general well-being. Moreover, evidence suggests that regular physical activity may protect against depression development, though conclusive experimental proof is lacking.
The effects of physical activity on mood have primarily been studied in the context of aerobic exercise, but anaerobic activities like bodybuilding and flexibility training have also shown to reduce depressive symptoms. Acute effects of aerobic activity include short-term improvement in depressive and anxiety symptoms, which may last for hours or up to a day. Anaerobic exercise may yield similar effects, albeit with a delay in manifestation.
Psychological hypotheses propose distraction, self-efficacy, and social interaction as mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of physical activity on mental health. Physiological hypotheses suggest the involvement of monoamines and endorphins in mood improvement, though the exact mechanisms remain uncertain. A psychobiological model integrating these factors is likely, but a precise understanding requires further research.
Excessive exercise, muscle dysmorphia, anabolic-androgenic steroid use, intense physical activity, mood disturbances, overtraining syndrome, and related conditions pose risks to mental health in individuals engaged in physical activity. Excessive exercise can lead to obsession and medical complications, while muscle dysmorphia involves distorted body image perception. Anabolic-androgenic steroid use is associated with mood swings and dependence. Intense physical activity, particularly among elite athletes, may worsen mood. Overtraining syndrome, characterized by excessive training and mood disturbances, affects a significant portion of athletes and requires rest for recovery.
Physical activity has positive effects on preventing and treating various diseases, including psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety disorders. However, it can also be harmful, particularly when done excessively or intensely, leading to conditions like “excessive exercise” and “overtraining syndrome.” Moderate exercise is associated with improved mood or maintaining high levels of mood, while intense exercise can worsen mood, particularly in relation to depression rather than anxiety. Understanding of the link between physical activity and mental health, specifically mood, is still limited, making it challenging to define cause-effect relationships or describe underlying psychological and physiological mechanisms.
Source:
Marco Aurélio Monteiro Peluso, Laura Helena Silveira Guerra de Andrade,
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MENTAL HEALTH: THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EXERCISE AND MOOD,
Clinics,
Volume 60, Issue 1,
2005,
Pages 61-70,
ISSN 1807-5932,
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1807-59322005000100012.