The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Mental Health
الشريط الجانبي للمقالة
محتوى المقالة الرئيسي
الملخص
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity levels and mental health outcomes among adults aged 18-65 years in an urban setting. Specifically, it sought to determine whether higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower psychological distress, as measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Participants were recruited from community centers, gyms, and online platforms, resulting in an initial sample of 500 individuals. After applying inclusion (physically capable adults) and exclusion criteria (individuals with diagnosed mental health disorders), 450 participants completed the study. The final sample comprised 220 females (48.9%) and 230 males (51.1%), with a mean age of 34.5 years (SD = 12.3). Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), while mental health was evaluated with the GHQ-12. Demographic and lifestyle variables, including age, gender, smoking status, and sleep quality, were collected via a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis to explore the relationships among variables.
The mean total physical activity score was 1,200 MET-min/week (SD = 800), with leisure-time activities contributing the most (mean = 750 MET-min/week, SD = 600). The mean GHQ-12 score was 3.5 (SD = 2.5), indicating low psychological distress, though 25% of participants scored above the cutoff of 4. A significant negative correlation was observed between total physical activity and GHQ-12 scores (r = -0.45, p < 0.001), suggesting that higher physical activity levels are associated with lower psychological distress. Multiple regression analysis revealed that total physical activity (β = -0.32, p < 0.001) and sleep quality (β = -0.25, p < 0.01) were significant predictors of mental health, explaining 18% of the variance in GHQ-12 scores (R² = 0.18). Moderating effects of demographic and lifestyle variables were not significant. The calculated effect size for the relationship between physical activity and mental health was medium (Cohen’s d = 0.50).
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القسم
هذا العمل مرخص بموجب Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
كيفية الاقتباس
المراجع
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