Relationship between physical activity and general mental health
Abstract
Purpose We investigated the relationship between physical activity and mental health and determined the optimal amount of physical activity associated with better mental health.Method Self-reported data from a national random sample of 7674 adult respondents collected during the 2008 U.S. Health Information National Trends 2007 Survey (HINTS) were analyzed in 2012. Mental health was plotted against the number of hours of physical activity per week using a fractional 2-degree polynomial function. Demographic and physical health factors related to poorer mental health were examined. The optimal range of physical activity associated with poorer mental health was examined by age, gender, and physical health.Results A curvilinear association was observed between physical activity and general mental health. The optimal threshold volume for mental health benefits was of 2.5 to 7.5h of weekly physical activity. The associations varied by gender, age, and physical health status. Individuals who engaged in the optimal amount of physical activity were more likely to have reported better mental health (odds ratio=1.39, p=0.006).Conclusions This study established a hyperbolic dose-response relationship between physical activity and general mental health, with an optimal range of 2.5 to 7.5h of physical activity per week.
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Benefits of regular physical activity and/or exercise extend to mental health.
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From Exercise Intervention in PTSD: A Narrative Review and Rationale for Implementation (2019) · cites this paper as [29]
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“Separate from the arts, connections between physical fitness and well-being have been found in older adults (Ohrnberger et al., 2017), adults (Kim et al., 2012), adolescents, and children (Biddle & Asare, 2011).”
- Authors
- Kim, Y. S., Park, Y. S., Allegrante, J. P., Marks, R., Ok, H., Ok Cho, K., & Garber, C. E.
- Affiliations
- Columbia University (US)
- York College, City University of New York (US)
- Mokwon University (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Garber, Carol Ewing
- Venue
- Preventive Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-11
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 458-463
- ISSN
- 0091-7435 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2003119406
- Cited by
- 169
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 6.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Life-span and Life-course Studies › Sports and Physical Education Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management
- Keywords
- physical activity, mental health, dose-response relationship, curvilinear relationship, gender differences, age differences, physical health status, United States adults
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Time Factors, United States, Exercise, Confidence Intervals, Logistic Models
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