Physical Activity and Public Health: Mental Health

Quest ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rod K. Dishman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity

scholarly journals What Predicts Stable Mental Health in the 18–29 Age Group Compared to Older Age Groups? Results from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort 2002–2014

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Winzer ◽  
Kimmo Sorjonen ◽  
Lene Lindberg
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Male Gender ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Age Group

Mental health has decreased in young people since the 1990s, and mental health promotion is an urgent matter. A first step is to identify which social determinants could be of importance for intervention. We used the Stockholm Public Health Cohort, a longitudinal population-based health survey, completed by 31,000 inhabitants in the Stockholm County. We focused on the 18–29 age group, n = 3373 (60% females, 40% males) and aimed at assessing which social determinants predict stable mental health, measured as scoring <3 points on the General Health Questionnaire 12 at all time points: 2002, 2007, 2010, and 2014. Forty-six percent of males and 36% of females reported stable mental health. Among the 17 predictors on sociodemographics, socioeconomics, social capital, health behavior, and victimization, six predicted stable mental health in the following order: occupation and especially employment, emotional support, male gender, being born in Sweden, absence of financial strain, and consumption of fruit and berries. In the 30–84 age group, 66% males and 55% females reported stable mental health. Nine determinants in the following rank predicted stable mental health: absence of financial strain, occupation and especially being self-employed, emotional support, male gender, physical activity, instrumental support, interpersonal trust, community trust, and absence of hazardous alcohol consumption. Interaction analysis showed significant difference between the younger and older group regarding physical activity and absence of financial strain with importance being higher for the older group. Our findings indicate that the determinants of health differ across the life-course with fewer predictors related to social capital and health behavior in the younger group compared to the older. We conclude that health-promoting interventions should be lifespan-sensitive.

scholarly journals Changes in Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Response to COVID-19 and Their Associations with Mental Health in 3052 US Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Meyer ◽  
Cillian McDowell ◽  
Jeni Lansing ◽  
Cassandra Brower ◽  
Lee Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Societal Changes ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic altered many facets of life. We aimed to evaluate the impact of COVID-19-related public health guidelines on physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, mental health, and their interrelations. Cross-sectional data were collected from 3052 US adults 3–8 April 2020 (from all 50 states). Participants self-reported pre- and post-COVID-19 levels of moderate and vigorous PA, sitting, and screen time. Currently-followed public health guidelines, stress, loneliness, positive mental health (PMH), social connectedness, and depressive and anxiety symptoms were self-reported. Participants were grouped by meeting US PA guidelines, reporting ≥8 h/day of sitting, or ≥8 h/day of screen time, pre- and post-COVID-19. Overall, 62% of participants were female, with age ranging from 18–24 (16.6% of sample) to 75+ (9.3%). Self-reported PA was lower post-COVID among participants reporting being previously active (mean change: −32.3% [95% CI: −36.3%, −28.1%]) but largely unchanged among previously inactive participants (+2.3% [−3.5%, +8.1%]). No longer meeting PA guidelines and increased screen time were associated with worse depression, loneliness, stress, and PMH (p < 0.001). Self-isolation/quarantine was associated with higher depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to social distancing (p < 0.001). Maintaining and enhancing physical activity participation and limiting screen time increases during abrupt societal changes may mitigate the mental health consequences.

Student Pandemic Experience: Protocol and baseline characteristics for a mobile prospective cohort study of university student mental health (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Brogly ◽  
Michael A. Bauer ◽  
Daniel J. Lizotte ◽  
MacLean L. Press ◽  
Arlene MacDougall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Health Service Utilization ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Student Mental Health

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency that poses challenges for the mental health of approximately 1.4 million university students in Canada. Preliminary evidence has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental impact on undergraduate student mental health and well-being, however existing data are predominantly limited to cross-sectional survey-based studies. Due to the evolving nature of the pandemic, longer-term prospective surveillance efforts are needed to better anticipate risk and protective factors during a pandemic. OBJECTIVE The overarching aim of this research is to use a mobile surveillance system to identify risk and protective factors for undergraduate mental health. Factors will be identified from weekly self-report data (e.g., affect, living accommodation) and device sensor data (e.g., physical activity, device usage) to prospectively predict self-reported mental health and service utilization. METHODS Undergraduate students at Western University, Canada, will be recruited via e-mail to complete an internet baseline questionnaire with the option to participate in the study on a weekly basis using the Student Pandemic Experience (SPE) mobile application (app) for Android/iOS. The app collects sensor samples (e.g., GPS coordinates, steps) and self-reported weekly mental health and wellness surveys. Student participants can opt-in to link their mobile data with campus-based administrative data capturing health service utilization. Risk and protective factors that predict mental health outcomes are expected to be estimated by 1) cross-sectional associations between student characteristics (e.g., demographics) and key psychosocial factors (e.g., affect, stress, social connection) and behaviors (e.g., physical activity, device usage) and 2) longitudinal associations between psychosocial and behavioral factors and campus-based health service utilization. RESULTS Data collection began November 9th, 2020 and will be ongoing through to at least August 31st, 2021. Retention from the baseline survey (N=427) to app sign-up was 315/427 (74%), with approximately 175-215 (55-68%) of app participants actively responding to weekly surveys. From November 9th, 2020 to May 1st, 2021, 3363 responses to the app surveys and 18914 sensor samples (consisting of up to 68 individual data items each, e.g., GPS coordinates, steps) were collected from the 315 participants that signed up for the app. CONCLUSIONS Identifying risk and resilience factors for student mental health during this public health crisis is critical for informing optimal campus-based strategies and program development during the pandemic and beyond.

scholarly journals Impact of meditation and physical activity behaviors on the relationship between perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health in mobile app users in the United States: Cross-sectional survey (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Green ◽  
Jennifer Huberty ◽  
Megan Puzia ◽  
Chad Stecher
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUND The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been declared an international public health emergency with potentially long-lasting effects on mental health. There is a need to identify effective strategies to buffer the negative mental health impact of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE To examine the regional differences in mental health and perceptions of COVID-19 in light of the state-level prevalence of COVID-19 cases, estimate the associations between perceptions of COVID-19 and health behavior engagement (i.e., physical activity, mindfulness meditation) and mental health, and explore the mediating effect of health behavior engagement on the relationship between perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was distributed to a sample of US adult paying subscribers to the Calm app (data collection April 22 to June 3, 2020). The survey assessed perceptions of COVID-19, health behavior engagement, and mental health (i.e., perceived stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety and depression). Statistical analyses were performed using R software. Differences in perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health by location were assessed using t-tests and chi-square tests. Logistic and OLS models regressed mental health and health behavior on COVID-19 perceptions, and Causal Mediation Analysis was used to estimate the significance of mediation effects. RESULTS The median age (N=8392) was 47 (SD=13.8) years. Mid-Atlantic region (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania) participants reported higher levels of stress, more severe depression symptoms, were more worried about COVID-19, paid more attention to COVID-19 news, and had more stress-related to social distancing recommendations than participants living in other regions. The relationship between worry about COVID-19 and perceived stress was significantly mediated by changes in physical activity (P<.001) and strength of meditation habit (P<.001). The relationship between worry about COVID-19 and PTSD symptoms was significantly mediated by changes in physical activity (P<.001) and strength of meditation habit (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Our findings describe the mental health impact of COVID-19 and outline how continued participation in health behaviors such as physical activity and mindfulness meditation may buffer against worsening mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These data have important implications for public health agencies and health organizations to promote the maintenance of health habits to reduce the residual mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Does persistent meditation and physical activity mediate the relationship between perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health? A cross sectional survey of mobile app users in the United States.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeni Green ◽  
Jennifer Huberty ◽  
Megan Puzia ◽  
Chad Stecher
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been declared an international public health emergency with potential long-lasting effects on mental health. The purpose of this survey was to examine the regional differences in mental health and perceptions of COVID-19 in light of the state-level prevalence of COVID-19 cases, estimate the associations between perceptions of COVID-19 and health behavior engagement (i.e., physical activity, mindfulness meditation) and mental health, and explore the mediating effect of health behavior engagement on the relationship between perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to a sample of US adult paying subscribers to the Calm app (data collection April 22 to June 3, 2020). The survey assessed perceptions of COVID-19, health behavior engagement, and mental health (i.e., perceived stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety and depression). All statistical analyses were performed using R software. Differences in perceptions of COVID-19 and mental health by location were assessed using t-tests and chi-square tests. Logistic and OLS models regressed mental health and health behavior on COVID-19 perceptions, and Causal Mediation Analysis was used to estimate the significance of mediation effects. Results: Median age (N=8392) was 47 (SD=13.8) years. Mid-Atlantic region participants reported higher levels of stress, more severe depression symptoms, were more worried about COVID-19, paid more attention to COVID-19 news, and had more stress related to social distancing recommendations than participants living in other regions. The relationship between worry about COVID-19 and perceived stress was significantly mediated by changes in physical activity (p<.001) and strength of meditation habit (p<.001). The relationship between worry about COVID-19 and PTSD symptoms was significantly mediated by changes in physical activity (p<.001) and strength of meditation habit (p<.001). Conclusions: Our findings describe the mental health impact of COVID-19 and outline how continued participation in health behaviors such as physical activity and mindfulness meditation may buffer against worsening mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These data have important implications for public health agencies and health organizations to promote the maintenance of health habits to reduce the residual mental health burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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