A review of the beneficial mental health effects of exercise and recommendations for future research
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: The present paper presents a comprehensive review of the empirical literature regarding the beneficial effects of physical exercise based interventions for the alleviation of anxiety and mood disorders. Anxiety and depressive disorders affect a significant proportion of the world’s population and are associated with substantial personal and societal cost. The research data indicates that physical exercise is an efficacious treatment method for depression, with evidence also supporting its use as a treatment for anxiety conditions. Exercise has been demonstrated to be at least as effective as pharmacotherapy for depressive and anxiety disorders, and preliminary evidence suggests that it is equally effective as CBT treatments. Exercise therefore appears to be a highly efficacious, cost-effective, and widely available method of alleviating depressive and anxiety symptomology. Research findings are also discussed in light of recent discoveries in the field of positive psychology and recommendations are made for future research.
Authors: James H. Swan, Philip Hyland
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W262542035