A systematic review of measures for psychological well-being in physical activity studies and identification of critical issues

Associations of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors with Depressive Symptoms and Mood Disturbance Throughout Pregnancy

Purpose: Mental health is critical for a healthy pregnancy, yet few studies have evaluated its associations with best practice, objectively measured moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) or sedentary behavior (SED). This study evaluated associations of MVPA and SED with mental health across pregnancy. Materials and Methods: Two cohort studies (total n = 125, mean [standard deviation] 31 [5] years, and 14.4% Black) measured MVPA (waist-worn ActiGraph GT3X) and SED (thigh-mounted activPAL) as well as self-reported depressive symptoms and mood disturbance in each trimester. Associations of group-based trajectories of MVPA and SED with depressive symptoms and mood disturbance were analyzed using regression analyses, both overall and by trimester. Results: Overall, the medium versus low trajectory of MVPA was associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms (B = -1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.97 to -0.68). In the second trimester, women in either the medium or high MVPA trajectories had lower levels of depressive symptoms compared with women in the low MVPA trajectory (B = -8.73, 95% CI -15.74 to -1.71; and B = -2.18, 95% CI -3.80 to -0.56). SED trajectories were not associated with depressive symptoms. Higher trajectories of MVPA and lower trajectories of SED were associated with lower total mood disturbance, with significant associations in the second trimester for MVPA and the first and second trimesters for SED. Higher MVPA trajectories were associated with higher tension, fatigue, and confusion subscales, while higher SED trajectories were associated with higher anger and fatigue and lower esteem and vigor subscales. Conclusions: MVPA and SED levels appear to affect mental health during pregnancy, although larger prospective studies are warranted. Clinical Trail Registration Number: NCT03084302.

Associations between domains of sedentary behavior, well-being, and quality of life - a cross-sectional study

The importance of reducing sedentary behavior (SB) in the prevention of mortality and chronic and mental diseases is scientifically well grounded, but SB can be accumulated in diverse domains of life, such as leisure-time SB, transport between home/work/school when sitting (transport-related SB), or in occupational settings such as working or studying (occupational SB), and the associations for each domain of SB with well-being measures and quality of life are still underexplored from a positive perspective. Through a cross-sectional investigation, we collected data from 584 participants who completed a questionnaire throughout November 2021 and with Spearman correlation test, analysed the associations between SB in three different domains with psychological well-being, satisfaction with life, and quality of life. Our results indicated that after adjustment for physical activity, sex, body mass index, smoking history, chronic disease status, financial perception, quality/duration of sleep and university group, in younger adults (18 to 24 years old), leisure-time SB was negatively related to psychological well-being (rho = -0.255; p = 0.008), and in adults (25 to 64 years old), occupational SB was negatively related to satisfaction with life (rho = -0.257; p < .001) and the mental component of quality of life (rho = -0.163; p = 0.027). Our findings highlight the idea that not all SB is built the same and that future strategies to reduce SB from people's lives must target specific domains of SB according to the age group when aiming to improve well-being and quality of life.

Effects of physical activity and sedentary time on depression, anxiety and well-being: a bidirectional Mendelian randomisation study

BACKGROUND

Mental health conditions represent one of the major groups of non-transmissible diseases. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (ST) have been shown to affect mental health outcomes in opposite directions. In this study, we use accelerometery-derived measures of PA and ST from the UK Biobank (UKB) and depression, anxiety and well-being data from the UKB mental health questionnaire as well as published summary statistics to explore the causal associations between these phenotypes.

METHODS

We used MRlap to test if objectively measured PA and ST associate with mental health outcomes using UKB data and summary statistics from published genome-wide association studies. We also tested for bidirectional associations. We performed sex stratified as well as sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

Genetically instrumented higher PA was associated with lower odds of depression (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.97) and depression severity (beta =  - 0.11; 95% CI: - 0.18, - 0.04), Genetically instrumented higher ST was associated higher odds of anxiety (OR = 2.59; 95% CI: 1.10, 4.60). PA was associated with higher well-being (beta = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04; 0.18) and ST with lower well-being (beta =  - 0.18; 95% CI: - 0.32, - 0.03). Similar findings were observed when stratifying by sex. There was evidence for a bidirectional relationship, with higher genetic liability to depression associated with lower PA (beta =  - 0.25, 95% CI: - 0.42; - 0.08) and higher well-being associated with higher PA (beta = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.25).

CONCLUSIONS

We have demonstrated the bidirectional effects of both PA and ST on a range of mental health outcomes using objectively measured predictors and MR methods for causal inference. Our findings support a causal role for PA and ST in the development of mental health problems and in affecting well-being.

The Relationship between Physical Activity and Psychosocial Well-Being during and after COVID-19 Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic was an extremely critical event that had a major impact on the physical and mental health of the world's population. The aim of the present work is to investigate whether physical activity plays a protective role in well-being both during the lockdown and afterwards, also assessing the role played by self-efficacy and perception of the risk of contracting COVID-19, as well as past behavior. To this end, two studies were conducted, the first close to lockdown (N = 1061; 76.3% females; mean age = 37.3-range: 18-80) and the second 2 years later (N = 562; 71.0% females; mean age = 33.2-range: 18-76). Descriptive and correlational analyses were performed, along with structural equation modelling. The results confirm the hypothesis of a positive impact of physical activity on emotional well-being alone during lockdown and on more general psychosocial well-being 2 years later. This result showed that physical activity during the pandemic represented an avoidance strategy from the psychological distress that COVID-19 was generating, whereas 2 years later, it represents a proactive strategy aimed at generating a positive mental health condition. These results provide a better understanding of the role physical activity plays in well-being by representing a resource for protecting as well as promoting the mental health of individuals.

Effects of Peer-Supported and Self-Guided Exercise on Self-Reported Anxiety and Depression among Young Adults-A Pilot Study

Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression became heightened issues for college-aged young adults during the global pandemic. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a peer-supported exercise intervention on young adults (vs. self-guided exercise) who reported elevated levels of anxiety and/or depression. A parallel group design was used where young adults (n = 27) were randomly assigned to either a peer-supported or self-guided exercise group which lasted for eight weeks. The generalized anxiety and depression subscales of the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms (CCAPS-34) were measured for a baseline and then at 4-week, 8-week, and 12-week follow-up. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) with repetitive measures show that peer-supported and self-guided exercise programs reduced participant anxiety and depression scores; however, intervention decay for the peer-supported exercise intervention was more severe than that for the self-guided group. Self-guided exercise had a longer-lasting effect than the peer-supported alternative and could be a cost-effective approach to combat anxiety and depression issues among young adults.

Longitudinal Profiles of Recovery-Enhancing Processes: Job-Related Antecedents and Well-Being Outcomes

The present study aimed to examine longitudinal recovery profiles based on three recovery-enhancing processes, i.e., psychological detachment from work, physical exercise, and sleep. In addition, we examined whether job-related demands and resources predict profile membership and whether profile membership predicts well-being outcomes. The participants were Finnish employees (N = 664) who filled in an electronic questionnaire in three successive years. Latent profile analysis (LPA) revealed five stable profiles of recovery-enhancing processes across time: (1) physically inactive, highly detaching (15%), (2) impaired recovery processes (19%), (3) enhanced recovery processes (25%), (4) physically active, poorly detaching and sleeping (19%), and (5) physically active (29%). In addition, job-related antecedents and well-being outcomes showed unique differences between the five profiles identified. Altogether, our study takes recovery research a step forward in helping to understand how recovery-enhancing processes function simultaneously over the long-term and suggests that, from the perspective of well-being, detachment from work and good sleep are more crucial recovery processes than physical activity.

Stress and psychological wellbeing in british police force officers and staff

Informed by the Demand Resources and Individual Effects model (DRIVE; Mark & Smith, 2008), we assessed how work and individual characteristics were associated with perceived job stress, and psychological wellbeing outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression, positive mood) in a cross-sectional study with two British police forces (N = 852 officers and staff). Work characteristics predicted psychological wellbeing outcomes both directly and indirectly through the perception of job stress. Work resources and individual characteristics moderated the relationships between work demands, perception of job stress and psychological wellbeing outcomes. The associations between perception of work demands, job stress and psychological wellbeing outcomes were improved in police officers and staff who reported moderate-high physical activity behavior. This study added new knowledge to the domain as it was the first to test the DRIVE model in its entirety in an occupational setting. It also provided new insight into the multi-dimensional factors associated with psychological wellbeing in policing. Practically, the findings implied a reduction of work demands, or interventions that target appraisals and/or physical activity might improve psychological wellbeing in police workers.

The impact of mobile phone fitness applications on the level of physical fitness and psychological well-being during covid-19: The case of university students

BACKGROUND

The impact of Coronavirus Disease-19 on peoples' life has become evident. Recently, sport activities are important in improving individual health and their well-being. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of using mobile phone fitness applications on some characteristics of physical fitness and psychological well-being of female university students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive study design was implemented using a survey which was adapted to collect data from a sample of 50 female participants within the age of 18 to 19 years. As for the results, the participants indicated that they used physical fitness application by smart phone regularly during COVID-19.

RESULTS

The results also illustrate that there was a significant difference on the study variables based on the study groups and test time. The study results extend literature concerning sport activities participation and promoting positive well-being during COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSION

The study indicated a significant difference of the application on physical fitness and psychological well-being among the participants. Based on the results, the study recommended to organize several sport activities among students and encourage them to use smart phones for positive purposes. Finally, practical implications are outlined.

Experiences of Size Inclusive Physical Activity Settings Among Women With Larger Bodies

Purpose: Size inclusive physical activity settings may help mitigate the impact of physical activity-related weight stigma. In this interpretive description study, we aimed to understand how women with larger bodies experienced size inclusive physical activity settings. The study was informed by a settings-based approach to health promotion. Method: We interviewed nine women with larger bodies who participated in size inclusive physical activity and used an inductive approach to analyze the data. Findings: At the individual level, size inclusion was experienced as an enhancement of well-being, self-worth, and belonging. This was closely tied to the interpersonal level, whereby weight-neutral practices used by fitness instructors and lack of judgment from other exercisers contributed to experiences of size inclusion. At the organizational level, the organization's culture, marketing, programs, and physical spaces could enhance or limit inclusion and participation. However, weight stigma was prevalent in women's experiences outside the physical activity setting. Conclusion: We provide recommendations to improve size inclusion in physical activity settings.

Purpose in life and personal growth: The unique and joint contribution of physical activity and basic psychological needs

This study examined if physical activity (PA) and self-determination theory's basic psychological needs directly or interactively predict older adults' eudaimonic well-being. Participants aged ≥55 years completed five online surveys. At baseline (T₁ ), participants (N = 430) reported on autonomy, competence, and relatedness experienced during PA. PA was assessed prospectively using the Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (recall period = 7 days) for four consecutive weeks (T₂ , T₃ , T₄ , and T₅ ); weekly PA scores were averaged. At T₅ , purpose in life and personal growth were measured using Ryff's scales of psychological well-being. In regression analyses, PA was associated with purpose in life for those reporting low relatedness (b = .04, p = .02). Competence was associated with purpose in life only for those high in relatedness (b = .34, p < .001). Autonomy was positively associated with personal growth for those who also reported high competence. Multiple imputation analyses (N = 430) and sensitivity analyses (n = 304) yielded findings consistent with those from complete cases (n = 182). Encouraging older people to move more may not be sufficient to confer well-being. It may be necessary to help people engage in activities that support their basic psychological needs.

Nature-Based Physical Activity and Hedonic and Eudaimonic Wellbeing: The Mediating Roles of Motivational Quality and Nature Relatedness

The current study evaluated the degree to which nature-based physical activity (NPA) influenced two distinct types of psychological wellbeing: hedonic wellbeing and eudaimonic wellbeing. The type of motivation an individual experiences for physical activity, and the extent to which individuals have a sense of relatedness with nature, have been shown to influence the specific type of psychological wellbeing that is experienced as a result of NPA. However, the role of these two variables in the relationship between NPA and psychological wellbeing has not been examined. Thus, this study assessed the potential mediating influence of (1) motivational quality and (2) nature relatedness on the relationships between NPA and hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing, respectively. Participants (N = 262) completed an online survey assessing hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing, NPA, intrinsic motivation, autonomous extrinsic motivation, and nature relatedness. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. Results showed that motivational quality and nature relatedness both fully mediated the relationships between NPA and hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing. Specifically, intrinsic motivation positively mediated the relationship between NPA and hedonic wellbeing. Autonomous extrinsic motivation and nature relatedness positively mediated the relationship between NPA and eudaimonic wellbeing. These findings suggest that the associations between NPA and eudaimonic wellbeing and hedonic wellbeing, respectively, are driven by different mechanisms relating to an individual's (1) underlying motivation and (2) sense of connection to nature. These findings suggest that promoting distinct types of wellbeing (hedonic vs. eudaimonic) through NPA requires distinct approaches. Emphasising enjoyment, pleasure, and positive kinaesthetic experiences within NPA may be more conducive to hedonic wellbeing, while highlighting opportunities for connecting with nature or experiencing valued outcomes of NPA may be more conducive to eudaimonic wellbeing.

Feasibility and Effectiveness of the Web-Based WeActive and WeMindful Interventions on Physical Activity and Psychological Well-Being

This study is aimed at examining the feasibility and effectiveness of aerobic and resistance training (WeActive) and mindful exercise (WeMindful) interventions in improving physical activity (PA), psychological well-being (PWB), and subjective vitality among college students. Participants in this study were 77 college students who were randomly assigned to either the WeActive group (n = 43) or the WeMindful group (n = 28). The WeActive group attended two 30-minute aerobic and resistance training sessions per week, and the WeMindful group attended two 30-minute yoga and mindful exercise sessions per week for eight weeks. All participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index, and the Subjective Vitality Scale before and after the intervention, as well as the Assessing Feasibility and Acceptability Questionnaire at the end of the intervention. The primary study outcome measures were PA, PWB, and subjective vitality. A repeated-measures ANCOVA indicated a significant main effect of time for total PA (F = 7.89, p = 0.006, η ² = 0.049), vigorous PA (F = 5.36, p = 0.024, η ² = 0.022), and walking (F = 7.34, p = 0.009, η ² = 0.042) in both intervention groups. There was a significant interaction effect of time and group for PWB (F = 11.26, p = 0.001, η ² = 0.022), where the WeActive group experienced a decrease in PWB scores while participants in the WeMindful group experienced an increase in PWB scores over time. There was a main effect of group for subjective vitality (F = 8.91, p = 0.007, η ² = 0.088), indicating that the WeMindful group experienced a greater increase in subjective vitality than the WeActive group. Further, the participants in both groups indicated that the synchronized and asynchronized Zoom-based WeActive and WeMindful interventions were acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for participants. This study demonstrated that mindful exercise is effective in increasing PA, PWB, and subjective vitality while aerobic and resistance training may only be effective in increasing PA.

Flourishing in Resonance: Joint Resilience Building Through Music and Motion

Worldwide, children face adverse childhood experiences, being exposed to risks ranging from, exposure to political violence and forced migration over the deleterious effects of climate change, to unsafe cultural practices. As a consequence, children that seek refuge or migrate to European countries are extremely vulnerable, often struggling with integration in school, peer community, and their broader social circle. This multifaceted struggle can derive from external factors, such as the adaptation process and contact with other children, or internal factors such as the fears and trauma that every child carries within them since they departed from their homeland. To bounce, grow, connect, and create in both adversity and opportunity, children need to build resilience, i.e., the capacity of an individual to maintain stable psychological functioning throughout the course of adversity. On the one hand, building resilience requires developing a set of individual skills (internal protective factors), such as self-control, emotion regulation, self-esteem, and agency. On the other hand, building resilience involves developing social skills (external protective factors), connection, and close relationships. In this theoretical contribution, we review and map existing research to argue that activities based on the combination of music and movement has a strong potential to intensively build resilience. First, we connect the concepts of resilience and eudaimonia, based on the protective factors and key components of resilience. Then we discuss how music and movement, separately, may contribute to building resilience. Next, drawing on the basic mechanisms of musical sense-making, we argue that through combining music and movement, children engage in empowering musical sense-making processes that support building resilience, and in this way, support them to grow together and deeply experience eudaimonic values such as self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem, personal autonomy, connection, belonging, and bonding. Finally, we connect theory to practice. Based on the presented theoretical elaborations and on the authors’ experience as practitioners, we propose a set of guiding principles for the design of movement-based musical activities that foster the internal and external factors necessary to build resilience.

Being Active during the Lockdown: The Recovery Potential of Physical Activity for Well-Being

To examine the indirect relationships between physical activity, and well-being (i.e., need satisfaction, subjective vitality, and stress) of individuals, through recovery experiences (i.e., detachment from lockdown, relaxation, mastery, and control over leisure time) during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.

METHODS

405 participants answered an online survey including questions on physical activity, recovery experiences, subjective vitality, perceived stress, and basic psychological needs satisfaction. Structural equation modeling tested a full-mediated model in which physical activity predicted recovery experience, which in turn predicted well-being.

RESULTS

Physical activity was positively related to a latent variable representing recovery experiences, which in turn was positively related to a latent variable representing well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity carried out regularly during the COVID-19 lockdown positively predicted well-being through recovery experiences. The study results highlight the importance of maintaining or increasing physical activity during periods when recovery experiences and well-being may be threatened.

Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Mental Health in Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Introduction: The recommendation of exercise programs in the senior population may benefit inactive and sedentary individuals and improve and help to treat specific health conditions. The purpose of this review is to summarize the published evidence from RCT studies of aerobic exercise interventions for mental health in older adults over the last 20 years. Methods: A literature search was conducted using electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed/Medline, and ProQuest. Results: A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. The subjects of these studies were aged 60 years or older and had various physical health statuses. In 15 studies, the mean effect size for the experimental outcome was 0.56 ± 0.39 (95%CI: 0.36-0.76). One-way ANOVA indicated no significant differences in the intervention duration [F _(2,15) = 0.919, p = 0.420], subject category [F _(2,15) = 0.046, p = 0.955], or measurement category [F _(3,14) = 0.967, p = 0.436]. However, there were significant differences in exercise frequencies [F _(2,15) = 6.03, p = 0.012]. Conclusion: The available evidence suggests that aerobic exercise is beneficial for improving the mental health of adults aged 60 years and older. The intervention effect can be achieved regardless of the type of subject and the duration of the intervention. Further, the present study indicates that low-frequency, long-term and regular aerobic exercise is more effective for older adults. Therefore, we recommend that older adults to exercise at a low frequency depending on their physical condition.

Hedonic and Utilitarian Motivations of Home Motion-Sensing Game Play Behavior in China: An Empirical Study

As an important branch of video games and the integration of emerging motion-sensing technology, home motion-sensing games cannot only bring hedonic entertainment but also promote utilitarian benefits including exercise and social interaction for people to improve their physical and psychological health. As one of the most populous countries in the world, China has the largest number of households in the world but quite a low home game penetration rate due to the 13 year game industry winter for international enterprises. Whether Chinese customers have the intention of using motion-sensing games to improve their health status in the home environment will directly determine the commercial potential of the relevant industry in the Chinese market. In order to understand the motives of users and explore the market possibility and prospects of the game industry, this study adopts empirical research and structural equation modeling to construct a motivation model of Chinese consumers toward motion-sensing gameplay behavior in the household environment. We distributed 515 questionnaires to conduct a survey; 427 valid responses have been received, and 203 data, which meet the inclusion criteria of the required game experience, have been analyzed by SPSS25.0 and AMOS25.0. A structural equation model for the gameplay motivation has been constructed. The result shows that the three functional motivators, exercise (Path efficient = 0.40, p < 0.01), entertainment (Path efficient = 0.27, p < 0.01), and social interaction (Path efficient = 0.36, p < 0.01) of home motion-sensing games have a significantly positive impact on the user's intention to play. Furthermore, the diversity and the time-and-place flexibility variables exert an important positive influence on the users' gameplay behavior through their effects on the three main functional motive variables. To sum up, (1) exercise, (2) entertainment, and (3) social interaction are the main functional motivations of the Chinese consumers' gameplay behaviors; (4) diversity and (5) time-and-place flexibility are the two main attribute motivators. The acceptance of Chinese users for home motion-sensing games remains positive and high. The motion-sensing game industry has broad market prospects in China through its potential in promoting consumer's wellness and health in the home environment.