Hanyang Med Rev.  2014 May;34(2):60-65. 10.7599/hmr.2014.34.2.60.

Physical Activity and Mental Health

• Kim YS

• KMID: 2284406
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7599/hmr.2014.34.2.60

Abstract

Over the past several decades, there has been interest on the role of physical activity in mental health. Mental health issues can impair physical health, social and occupational functioning seriously. Thus, the development of preventive strategies has been required. Physical activity is a cost-effective prevention strategy. Besides, substantial physical health-related benefits and a number of psychological benefits have been proved, most evidence seen with depression. For example, physical activity can improve depressive symptoms in those who are diagnosed with major depression, in healthy adults, and in patients with cardiovascular disease or other chronic disease. Regular physical activity appears to be protective against cognitive dysfunction, anxiety and poor sleep. Current evidence supports the conclusion that regular participation in moderate physical activity, consistent with current public health guidelines, gives mental health benefits.

Keyword

Motor Activity; Exercise; Mental Health; Depression; Dementia; Sleep Disorders

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anxiety
Cardiovascular Diseases
Chronic Disease
Dementia
Depression
Humans
Mental Health*
Motor Activity*
Public Health
Sleep Wake Disorders

Reference

1. World Health Organization. Mental health action plan 2013-2020. Geneva: World Health Organization;2013. p. 1–45.

2. Korniloff K, Vanhala M, Kautiainen H, Koponen H, Peltonen M, Mantyselka P, et al. Lifetime leisure-time physical activity and the risk of depressive symptoms at the ages of 65-74 years: the FIN-D2D survey. Prev Med. 2012; 54:313–315.

3. Scott KM, Bruffaerts R, Tsang A, Ormel J, Alonso J, Angermeyer MC, et al. Depression-anxiety relationships with chronic physical conditions: results from the World Mental Health Surveys. J Affect Disord. 2007; 103:113–120.

4. Lopez AD, Mathers CD, Ezzati M, Jamison DT, Murray CJ. Global and regional burden of disease and risk factors, 2001: systematic analysis of population health data. Lancet. 2006; 367:1747–1757.

5. Mathers CD, Loncar D. Projections of global mortality and burden of disease from 2002 to 2030. PLoS Med. 2006; 3:e442.

6. Murray CJ, Lopez AD. Alternative projections of mortality and disability by cause 1990-2020: Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet. 1997; 349:1498–1504.

7. Garber CE, Blissmer B, Deschenes MR, Franklin BA, Lamonte MJ, Lee IM, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011; 43:1334–1359.

8. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. Part G. Section 8: Mental Health. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services;2008.

9. Dinas PC, Koutedakis Y, Flouris AD. Effects of exercise and physical activity on depression. Ir J Med Sci. 2011; 180:319–325.

10. Dunn AL, Trivedi MH, O'Neal HA. Physical activity dose-response effects on outcomes of depression and anxiety. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001; 33:S587–S597. discussion 609-10.

11. Park SB, Cho MJ, Cho SJ, Bae JN, Lee JY, Park JI, et al. Relationship between physical activity and mental health in a nationwide sample of Korean adults. Psychosomatics. 2011; 52:65–73.

12. Kim JY. Physical activity and mental health: based on Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Seoul: The graduate school of Public Health, Seoul National University;2010. 43. Unpublised Master's thesis.

13. Ryu SH. The effectof combined exercise on physical fitness and depressive symptom in schizophrenia. Seoul: The graduate school of Education;Seoul National University. 2013. 34. Unpublised Master's thesis.

14. Jang KH. The effect of combined exercise on alcohol urge, depression and self-esteem in hospitalized patients with alcohol dependence. Seoul: The graduate school of Education, Seoul National University;2013. 55. Unpublised Master's thesis.

15. Blumenthal JA, Babyak MA, Doraiswamy PM, Watkins L, Hoffman BM, Barbour KA, et al. Exercise and pharmacotherapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Psychosom Med. 2007; 69:587–596.

16. Pinchasov BB, Shurgaja AM, Grischin OV, Putilov AA. Mood and energy regulation in seasonal and non-seasonal depression before and after midday treatment with physical exercise or bright light. Psychiatry Res. 2000; 94:29–42.

17. Sims J, Hill K, Davidson S, Gunn J, Huang N. Exploring the feasibility of a community-based strength training program for older people with depressive symptoms and its impact on depressive symptoms. BMC Geriatr. 2006; 6:18.

18. Tsang HW, Fung KM, Chan AS, Lee G, Chan F. Effect of a qigong exercise programme on elderly with depression. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006; 21:890–897.

19. O'Connor PJ, Herring MP, Caravalho A. Mental Health Benefits of Strength Training in Adults. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2010; 4:377–396.

20. Dunn AL, Trivedi MH, Kampert JB, Clark CG, Chambliss HO. Exercise treatment for depression: efficacy and dose response. Am J Prev Med. 2005; 28:1–8.

21. Kim YS, Park YS, Allegrante JP, Marks R, Haean Ok, Cho KO, et al. Relationship between physical activity and general mental health. Prev Med. 2012; 55:458–463.

22. Ferri CP, Prince M, Brayne C, Brodaty H, Fratiglioni L, Ganguli M, et al. Global prevalence of dementia: a Delphi consensus study. Lancet. 2005; 366:2112–2117.

23. Yoo MS, Jo EM, Kim YS. Study on Daily Living Activity, Cognitive Function and Depression of Community Dwelling Elderly Women Served Home Visiting Care Service. J Korean Soc Matern Child Health. 2007; 11:224–232.

24. Kovach CR, Henschel H. Planning activities for patients with dementia: a descriptive study of therapeutic activities on special care units. J Gerontol Nurs. 1996; 22:33–38.

25. Salthouse TA, Davis HP. Organization of cognitive abilities and neuropsychological variables across the lifespan. Dev Rev. 2006; 26:31–54.

26. Yaffe K, Barnes D, Nevitt M, Lui LY, Covinsky K. A prospective study of physical activity and cognitive decline in elderly women: women who walk. Arch Intern Med. 2001; 161:1703–1708.

27. Weuve J, Kang JH, Manson JE, Breteler MM, Ware JH, Grodstein F. Physical activity, including walking, and cognitive function in older women. JAMA. 2004; 292:1454–1461.

28. Smith PJ, Blumenthal JA, Hoffman BM, Cooper H, Strauman TA, Welsh-Bohmer K, et al. Aerobic exercise and neurocognitive performance: a meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials. Psychosom Med. 2010; 72:239–252.

29. Salthouse TA, Davis HP. Organization of cognitive abilities and neuropsychological variables across the lifespan. Dev Rev. 2006; 26:31–54.

30. SG H. Effects of resistance exercise on EEG, cognitive function in elderly with mild cognitive impairment. Seoul: The graduate school of Education, Seoul National University;2013. 177–185. Unpublised Master's thesis.

31. Colcombe S, Kramer AF. Fitness effects on the cognitive function of older adults: a meta-analytic study. Psychol Sci. 2003; 14:125–130.

32. Kramer AF, Erickson KI, Colcombe SJ. Exercise, cognition, and the aging brain. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2006; 101:1237–1242.

33. Marks BL, Madden DJ, Bucur B, Provenzale JM, White LE, Cabeza R, et al. Role of aerobic fitness and aging on cerebral white matter integrity. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2007; 1097:171–174.

34. Colcombe SJ, Erickson KI, Scalf PE, Kim JS, Prakash R, McAuley E, et al. Aerobic exercise training increases brain volume in aging humans. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006; 61:1166–1170.

35. Pereira AC, Huddleston DE, Brickman AM, Sosunov AA, Hen R, McKhann GM, et al. An in vivo correlate of exercise-induced neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104:5638–5643.

36. Podewils LJ, Guallar E, Kuller LH, Fried LP, Lopez OL, Carlson M, et al. Physical activity, APOE genotype, and dementia risk: findings from the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2005; 161:639–651.

37. Brock BM, Haefner DP, Noble DS. Alameda County redux: replication in Michigan. Prev Med. 1988; 17:483–495.

38. Kong SA, Kim YS. Physical activity and brain disease - focusing mainly on mental health, schizophrenia and sleep disease. Sport Sci Rev. 2007; 1:25–38.

39. Peppard PE, Young T. Exercise and sleep-disordered breathing: an association independent of body habitus. Sleep. 2004; 27:480–484.

40. Quan SF, O'Connor GT, Quan JS, Redline S, Resnick HE, Shahar E, et al. Association of physical activity with sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep Breath. 2007; 11:149–157.

41. O'Connor PJ, Breus MJ, Youngstedt SD. Exercise-induced increase in core temperature does not disrupt a behavioral measure of sleep. Physiol Behav. 1998; 64:213–217.

42. Youngstedt SD, O'Connor PJ, Dishman RK. The effects of acute exercise on sleep: a quantitative synthesis. Sleep. 1997; 20:203–214.

43. Norman JF, Von Essen SG, Fuchs RH, McElligott M. Exercise training effect on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep Res Online. 2000; 3:121–129.

44. Youngstedt SD. Effects of exercise on sleep. Clin Sports Med. 2005; 24:355–365. xi

45. Tworoger SS, Yasui Y, Vitiello MV, Schwartz RS, Ulrich CM, Aiello EJ, et al. Effects of a yearlong moderate-intensity exercise and a stretching intervention on sleep quality in postmenopausal women. Sleep. 2003; 26:830–836.

46. de Jong J, Lemmink KA, Stevens M, de Greef MH, Rispens P, King AC, et al. Six-month effects of the Groningen Active Living Model (GALM)on physical activity, health and fitness outcomes in sedentary and underactive older adults aged 55-65. Patient Educ Couns. 2006; 62:132–141.

47. Dishman RK, Berthoud HR, Booth FW, Cotman CW, Edgerton VR, Fleshner MR, et al. Neurobiology of exercise. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006; 14:345–356.

48. Motl RW, Konopack JF, McAuley E, Elavsky S, Jerome GJ, Marquez DX. Depressive symptoms among older adults: long-term reduction after a physical activity intervention. J Behav Med. 2005; 28:385–394.

49. Bartholomew JB, Morrison D, Ciccolo JT. Effects of acute exercise on mood and well-being in patients with major depressive disorder. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005; 37:2032–2037.