Not All Exercise Boosts Mental Health ⁘ It⁘s The Why That Matters Most

Research often points to exercise as a good way to boost mental health, but a recent study from the University of Georgia suggests that it's not just physical movement that affects mental health.

⁘Historically, physical activity research has focused on how long someone exercises for or how many calories were burned,⁘ said Patrick O'Connor, co-author of the study and a professor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education's Department of Kinesiology. ⁘The 'dose' of exercise has been the dominant way researchers have tried to understand how physical activity might influence mental health, while often ignoring whether those minutes were spent exercising with a friend or as part of a game.⁘

While research shows that leisure-time physical activity -- like going for a run, taking a yoga class or biking for fun -- correlates with better mental health outcomes, these benefits may vary significantly depending on the environment and circumstances surrounding the activity, according to the researchers.

To analyze these factors, the researchers reviewed three types of studies. These included large-scale epidemiological studies that examined health patterns in populations, randomized controlled trials where some groups received exercise treatments and others did not, and a much smaller but growing set of investigations into contextual factors.

Multiple studies found that people who engage in regular leisure-time physical activity tend to report lower levels of depression and anxiety. But it's less clear for other forms of activity like cleaning the house or working for a lawn care company. The context may matter as much as the intensity or amount of physical activity.

⁘For example, if a soccer player runs down the field and kicks the game-winning ball, their mental health is fantastic,⁘ O'Connor said. ⁘In contrast, if you do the exact same exercise but miss the goal and people are blaming you, you likely feel very differently. Anecdotes such as these show how context matters even when people are performing a similar exercise dose.⁘

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