Health benefits of a physical exercise program for inpatients with mental health; a pilot study

Physical exercise and mental health among older adults: the mediating role of social competence

Background

Healthy aging is crucial to the quality of life of older adults, of which mental health is an essential part. Physical exercise strongly affects their mental health and can alleviate psychological problems to a certain extent. Nevertheless, the correlation between physical exercise and the mental health of older adults individuals, as well as the underlying mechanism by which physical exercise impacts mental health, remains rather ambiguous.

Methods

We utilized multiple linear regression models to investigate the relationship between physical activity and mental health in 3,240 persons aged 60 and up. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to assess the robustness of the regression results. In addition, sequential recursive models were employed to investigate the mediating role of social competence in the link between physical activity and mental health.

Results and discussion

We discovered a strong favorable association between physical exercise and mental health, which was mediated by social competence. Furthermore, the effect of physical exercise on mental health differed across older persons from various socioeconomic backgrounds.

Conclusion

Older adults should strengthen their understanding of the role of physical exercise. Sports organizations that serve older adults by providing resources and services to help them maintain physical fitness and by hosting sports activities and competitions according to their needs should be established.

Impact of sports participation on life satisfaction among internal migrants in China: The chain mediating effect of social interaction and self-efficacy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of sports participation on the life satisfaction of internal migrants and its internal mechanism.

METHODS

A total of 579 valid samples were obtained from the 2017 Chinese General Social Survey data. The correlations among physical exercise, watching games (live), social interaction, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction were examined using Pearson correlation analyses. A chain mediating model was tested utilizing the PROCESS macro for IBM SPSS Statistics.

RESULTS

(a) Two forms of sports participation, physical exercise and watching games (live), are shown to impact the life satisfaction of internal migrants in China, though different mechanisms drive these effects; (b) the chain mediating effects of social interaction and self-efficacy in the relationship between sports participation and life satisfaction are established; and (c) self-efficacy is shown to be a mediator between physical exercise and life satisfaction but does not play a mediating role in the case of watching games (live).

CONCLUSION

This research indicates that sports participation can significantly influence the life satisfaction of internal migrants in China through the sequential mediation of social interaction and self-efficacy.

The effect of exercise on cognition and clinical symptoms of patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review of randomized controlled trial

Physical activity has been viewed as a potential non-pharmacological therapeutic strategy to improve the clinical symptoms and neurocognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia. However, there are various types of physical activities, and different exercise prescriptions might produce inconsistent benefits. Thus, this study aimed to conduct a systematic review of exercise interventions for patients with schizophrenia, clarifying the benefits of these interventions on cognitive function and clinical symptoms. This review encompasses six electronic databases, with inclusion criteria including randomized controlled trial designs, participants with schizophrenia, and a comprehensive exercise intervention program. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria, incorporating data from 1549 patients with schizophrenia. The results highlight that when comparing the exercise intervention group to the non-intervention control group, patients with schizophrenia showed significant improvement in negative symptoms. Structured exercise interventions can help improve the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, filling the gaps where medication falls short. Regarding functional outcomes, exercise interventions aid in enhancing the overall functionality (psychological, social, occupational) of individuals with schizophrenia. The improvement is largely tied to the boost in physical fitness that exercise provides. Based on current findings, exercise interventions assist in enhancing cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. Notably, significant improvements are observed in higher-order cognitive functions, including processing speed, attention, and working memory. It is recommended to engage in moderate-intensity exercises at least three times a week, with each session lasting a minimum of 30min. Well-structured exercise interventions contribute to enhancing the negative symptoms and cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia.

Repercussions of Pandemic and Preventive Measures on General Well-Being, Psychological Health, Physical Fitness, and Health Behavior: Mediating Role of Coping Behavior

Background

Pandemic prevention measures increased physical inactivity due to travel restrictions that led to negative physical fitness, health behavior, psychological health, and general well-being. The mediating role of coping behavior must be identified before developing interventional strategies for this pandemic.

Objective

The study investigates the mediating role of coping behavior to mitigate the Coronavirus disease impact on physical fitness, health behavior, psychological health, and general well-being.

Methods

A web-based survey was used under convenience sampling to collect the primary data. Smart-PLS 3.0 was used to analyze the collected data.

Results

All 14 direct correlations (H1-H14) were correct, and coping behavior's mediating impact was shown to be statistically significant (H9a- H14d).

Conclusion

Our study findings indicate that mediating role of coping behavior in mitigating the pandemic impacts was statistically significant. It is concluded that coping behavior is a healthy adaptation to protecting the barrier against COVID-19 adverse effects on health.

The efficacy of exercise interventions for all types of inpatients across mental health settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 studies

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the benefits, safety and adherence of exercise interventions delivered in inpatient mental health settings, quantified the number of exercise trials that provided support to maintain engagement in exercise post-discharge, and reported patient feedback towards exercise interventions. Major databases were searched from inception to 22.06.2022 for intervention studies investigating exercise in mental health inpatient settings. Study quality was assessed using Cochrane and ROBINS-1 checklists. Fifty-six papers were included from 47 trials (including 34 RCTs), bias was high. Exercise improved depression (Standardised mean difference = -0.416; 95% Confidence interval -0.787 to -0.045, N = 15) compared to non-exercise comparators amongst people with a range of mental illnesses, with further (albeit limited) evidence suggesting a role of exercise in cardiorespiratory fitness and various other physical health parameters and ameliorating psychiatric symptoms. No serious exercise-related adverse events were noted, attendance was ≥80% in most trials, and exercise was perceived as enjoyable and useful. Five trials offered patients post-discharge support to continue exercise, with varying success. In conclusion, exercise interventions may have therapeutic benefits in inpatient mental health settings. More high-quality trials are needed to determine optimal parameters, and future research should investigate systems to support patients to maintain exercise engagement once discharged.

Effects of mild-intensity physical exercise on neurocognition in inpatients with schizophrenia: A pilot randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To find suggestions for a future definitive randomized control trial and examine the effects of physical exercise on neurocognition in schizophrenia.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients hospitalized with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to exercise (n = 5) or control (n = 17) groups. The experimental group performed an exercise regimen for 8 weeks. Following intervention, demographics, psychiatric symptoms, and neurocognitive functions were examined.

FINDINGS

The patients in the control and exercise groups, 14 and 4, respectively, showed significant differences in hospitalization duration and negative symptoms. After controlling both, neurocognition improved in the exercise group compared with the control group.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Mild-intensity physical exercise improves global neurocognition in schizophrenic inpatients and could lead to earlier release.

Function of Perceived Corporate Social Responsibility in Safety of Sports Activities and Home Aerobic Equipment in the Late Period of COVID-19

The pandemic has impacted various industries, including the sports industry. However, corporate social responsibility (CSR) can mitigate the adverse effects of the crisis and promote the sports industry. To analyze the effect of CSR, the study examined the impact of perceived corporate social responsibility on injury prevention expectation, injury risk perception, and health up-gradation with the mediation of sports safety measures. There are 259 sportsmen of local sports bodies provided the data through a self-administered survey. Data analysis was conducted through Smart-PLS and SEM techniques. The outcome of the analysis showed that perceived corporate social responsibility leads to injury prevention expectation, injury risk perception, and health up-gradation. Also, the study found that sports safety measure mediates the relationship between perceived corporate social responsibility and injury prevention expectation, between perceived corporate social responsibility and injury risk perception, and between perceived corporate social responsibility and health up-gradation among sportsmen of local sports bodies. The theoretical implications were presented related to the significance of CSR and sports safety measure and their impact on sportsmen injury prevention expectation, health, and risk perception. The practical implications were related to the management of local sports bodies and how they can induce CSR initiatives and programs. Some limitations related to sample size, incorporating other variables, examining the model in other contexts, and using different study designs, have also been mentioned in the study.

Study of the Motivation of Spanish Amateur Runners Based on Training Patterns and Gender

The objectives of the present study are to analyze the different training patterns of the amateur runners, according to their gender, and to find out a correlation between the training pattern and the motivation. The sample was composed of 457 amateur runners. For the collection of data, a two-part questionnaire was used. The first part consisted of questions about sporting and healthy patterns and the second part consisted of the Perception of Success Questionnaire (POSQ), adapted to Spanish. The obtained results indicated that their motives for starting to practice running and to continue their involvement are health and fun. The training pattern is as follows: they practise one to three days per week, running from three to five hours overall plus additional stretching and high intensity training. They participated in less than one running event per month. Most of them did not belong to an athletic club, did not have a coach, were not federated and have more than four years’ experience of running. What concerns the gender differences, the men trained more than the women, and they did it with relatives and friends; women preferred to do it with friends or by themselves with the assistance of a coach. Age and running hours per week were the best variables to predict the task goal orientation, especially for men. For women, training hours per week predicted the goal orientation but to the ego. This finding could be especially helpful for coaches. A high number of training hours for men was linked with a task goal orientation, and on the other hand, for women it meant an ego goal orientation. The consequences of their behaviours were likely to be markedly different.

Physical Fitness and Exercise During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Enquiry

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this fast-moving world to a standstill. The impact of this pandemic is massive, and the only strategy to curb the rapid spread of the disease is to follow social distancing. The imposed lockdown, resulting in the closure of business activities, public places, fitness and activity centers, and overall social life, has hampered many aspects of the lives of people including routine fitness activities of fitness freaks, which has resulted in various psychological issues and serious fitness and health concerns. In the present paper, the authors aimed at understanding the unique experiences of fitness freaks during the period of lockdown due to COVID-19. The paper also intended to explore the ways in which alternate exercises and fitness activities at home helped them deal with psychological issues and physical health consequences. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 22 adults who were regularly working out in the gym before the COVID-19 pandemic but stayed at home during the nationwide lockdown. The analysis revealed that during the initial phase of lockdown, the participants had a negative situational perception and a lack of motivation for fitness exercise. They also showed psychological health concerns and overdependence on social media in spending their free time. However, there was a gradual increase in positive self-perception and motivation to overcome their dependence on gym and fitness equipment and to continue fitness exercises at home. Participants also tended to play music as a tool while working out. The regular fitness workout at home during the lockdown greatly helped them to overcome psychological issues and fitness concerns.

Do Sex, Age, and Marital Status Influence the Motivations of Amateur Marathon Runners? The Poznan Marathon Case Study

The purpose of this research was to describe reasons for participating in a marathon and their association with marital status, age, and sex. Four hundred and ninety-three runners in total, 144 of whom were women and 349 of whom were men, completed the Polish version of the Motivations of Marathoners Scale (MOMS), containing nine dimensions, which was released through an online survey at the Poznan Marathon in Poland (2019). Athletes’ age (ranges 19–25, 26–35, 36–50, 51–70 years) and marital status (single, married, divorced) were asked of the participants. The results showed that statistical significant associations were found between athletes’ motivational aspects and athletes’ sex and age. To this end, three MOMS dimensions were statistically associated with athletes’ sex, a further three dimensions were different age-wise, and, lastly, marital status did not show differences in any of the dimensions. Moreover, statistical differences were not found in the multivariate analysis comparing marital status, sex, and age range according to MOMS. Recreational runners’ reasons for participating in a marathon are different depending on certain sociodemographic variables; therefore, these characteristics should be considered when addressing different athletes in order to provide them with the most suitable information for taking part in such events.

The relationship of recreational runners' motivation and resilience levels to the incidence of injury: A mediation model

Running participation has increased significantly in the last decade. Despite its association with different health-related aspects, athletes may experience adverse outcomes, including injuries. The aim of this study was twofold: to examine the relationship between runners’ resilience levels, motivation and incidence of injury, on the one hand; and to analyse the mediation that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation has on the association between the number of injuries and psychological resilience levels among amateur athletes. The sample consisted of a total of 1725 runners (age: 40.40 ± 9.39 years), 1261 of whom were male (age: 43.16 ± 9.38), and 465 of whom were female (age: 40.34 ± 9.14). Athletes completed the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3), the Resilience scale (CD-RISC 10), and an Injury retrospective survey. Three mediation models were constructed, and the results showed a significant indirect association of athletes’ intrinsic motivation and resilience on the number of injuries (β = 0.022, CI = 0.007, 0.0) in mediation model 1, whereas extrinsic motivation was found to have no significant association on those variables (β = -0.062, CI = -0.137, 0.009) in mediation model 2. Model 3 showed significant differences with respect to resilience (p < 0.05) and intrinsic motivation (p < 0.05). Therefore, the mediation of intrinsic motivation on athletes’ resilience levels and incidence of injury was demonstrated, i.e., it was found that intrinsic motivation was associated with a higher incidence of injury, while no such correlation was found for extrinsic motivation. This study shows that the amateur long distance runners with a high level of intrinsic motivation tend to suffer from a greater number of injuries, and at the same time psychological resilience was associated with a lower number of injuries.

Internet addiction mediates the association between cyber victimization and psychological and physical symptoms:moderation by physical exercise

BACKGROUND

The potential mechanisms underlying cyber victimization and the resulting psychological and physical symptoms remain unclear. Thus, the present study investigated whether Internet addiction mediates the association between peer victimization (e.g., cyberbullying) and psychological and physical symptoms. Furthermore, it was assessed whether physical exercise moderates the hypothetical mediation.

METHODS

1854 students from 11 middle and high schools in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, were sampled for this study. Psychological and physical symptoms were assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF, while Internet addiction was evaluated using the Internet addiction test by Young. Cyber victimization was measured using a single question. In addition, this study examined whether Internet addiction mediated the association between cyber victimization and both psychological and physical symptoms. Additional work was conducted to test if physical exercise played a moderating role in the mediation hypothesized above. Mediation and moderation were analyzed using PROCESS macro for SPSS.

RESULTS

Regression analysis showed that both cyber victimization (β = - 0.102, p < 0.05) and Internet addiction (β = - 0.278, p < 0.05) significantly predicted psychological and physical symptoms and demographic variables were controlled. Further mediation analysis suggested that Internet addiction mediated the relationship between cyber victimization and psychological and physical symptoms. The 95% CI (confidence interval) of the direct effect was (- 4.283, - 1.696) and the indirect effect (- 1.904, - 0.820), respectively, excluding zero. Finally, moderation analysis indicated that physical exercise moderated the relationship between Internet addiction and psychological and physical symptoms (p = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Internet addiction plays a mediating role in the association between cyber victimization and both psychological and physical symptoms, Thus, addressing Internet addiction among cyberbullying victims is worthwhile. Furthermore, physical exercise alleviates negative impacts on health and should thus be promoted.

Physical exercise for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The negative symptoms of schizophrenia contribute strongly to functional impairment but are inadequately treated by antipsychotic medication. Several studies have suggested that physical exercise could reduce the negative symptoms.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effectiveness of physical exercise interventions in improving the negative symptoms of schizophrenia using different databases and trial registries.

RESULTS

Seventeen RCTs were included in the meta-analysis (n = 954 patients). Overall, the results revealed a significant beneficial effect of physical exercise on negative symptoms. We conducted a subgroup analysis differentiating between aerobic interventions (12 RCTs) and non-aerobic interventions (5 RCTs). Aerobic exercise reduced negative and positive symptoms, while this was not the case for non-aerobic interventions. A sensitivity analysis including only studies with a low risk of bias confirmed the effect on negative but not on positive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Aerobic exercise had a beneficial effect on negative symptoms, albeit with a small effect size. The conclusions are limited by the fact that the included studies did not assess patients for predominant or primary negative symptoms. Given the important role of exercise for physical health, the additional effects on negative symptoms are promising and justify further research to disentangle the effects on primary and secondary negative symptoms.