Work

Mechanisms underlying the role of aerobic exercise in emotion regulation and its prescriptive considerations for promoting mental and physical health

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: With the increasing prevalence of emotional disorders and mental health challenges, identifying safe, effective, and widely applicable intervention strategies has become a pressing concern in public health. As a nonpharmacological approach to mind–body regulation, aerobic exercise has been extensively validated for its significant effects on emotional modulation. This paper systematically reviews the theoretical foundations and empirical evidence related to aerobic exercise and explores its multifaceted mechanisms in emotion regulation, including neurobiological pathways, psychological–behavioural mechanisms, and social support factors. Drawing on practical applications across diverse populations, we propose scientifically grounded and practically oriented exercise prescription recommendations—encompassing exercise type, frequency, intensity, duration, and periodisation. The findings indicate that moderate and regular aerobic exercise can effectively alleviate negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, and stress while simultaneously enhancing cognitive function, self-esteem, and overall psychosomatic well-being. This study provides a theoretical foundation and operational framework for integrating aerobic exercise into psychological interventions and health promotion systems and offers actionable guidance for the development of individualised and systematic exercise prescriptions.

Source: Intelligent Sports and Health

DOI: 10.1016/j.ish.2025.12.003