Importance of exercise and sport for emotional and physical well-being
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Emotions, Health, Mind, Physical, Well-being
This article reflects on how physical activity not only benefits the body, but is also a powerful tool for emotional well-being. In a scenario where depression and anxiety are common difficulties impacting millions, it is vital to understand this relationship. The WHO estimates that approximately 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression, highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention strategies.
Research has shown that physical exercise has a positive influence on mental health. A systematic review found that physical activity can be as effective as antidepressant drugs in the therapy of depression. This phenomenon is the result of a mixture of biological and psychological factors; physical activity increases the generation of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonin, which are essential for controlling mood. In addition, exercise helps boost self-esteem and self-confidence, essential factors for those dealing with emotional problems.
Carratala, V., & Carratala, E. (1999). El judo en edades tempranas. Una propuesta de competición. Ponencia presentada en el I Congreso sobre la actividad física y el deporte en la universidad. Universidad de Valencia.
Clínica Alemana. (2002). Sedentarismo chileno: ¿preocupante o una exageración? Santiago, Chile. Disponible en http://www.alemana.cl
Craft, L. L., & Perna, F. M. (2004). The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed. Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 6(3), 104-111. https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.v06n0301
Davis, C., Kennedy, S., Ravelski, E., & Dionea, M. (1994). The role of physical activity in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Psychological Medicine, 24, 957-967.
Dunn, A. L., Trivedi, M. H., & O'Neal, H. A. (2001). Physical activity dose-response effects on outcomes of depression and anxiety. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 33(6), S587-S597.
Eime, R. M., Young, J. A., Harvey, J. T., & Charity, M. J. (2013). A framework for sport and recreation participation and mental wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 47(9), 916-920. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867413493341
Eime, R. M., Young, J. A., Harvey, J. T., & Charity, M. J. (2013). A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for adults: informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10(1), 135.
Kubota, K. (2002). Effects of physical training on cognitive function: A neurocognitive approach to mental fitness. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 1(1), 47-53.
Long, B. C., & Stavel, R. (1995). Effects of exercise training on anxiety: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 7(2), 167-189.
Mikkelsen, K., Stigsdotter, U. K., & Høgh-Jensen, M. (2017). The influence of physical activity on mental health: A review of the literature. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(6), 618-630. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12615
Organización Mundial de la Salud. (2021). Depression. Disponible en https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
Paluska, S. A., & Schwenk, T. L. (2000). Physical activity and mental health: Current concepts. Sports Medicine, 29(3), 167-180.
Perrin, P. B., et al. (2020). Social support and health-related quality of life in patients with depression: The role of social networks. Quality of Life Research, 29(5), 1331-1340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-020-02566-1
Ramírez, W., Vinaccia, S., & Suárez, G. R. (2004). El impacto de la actividad física y el deporte sobre la salud, la cognición, la socialización y el rendimiento académico: Una revisión teórica. Revista de Estudios Sociales, 18, 67-75.
Rebar, A. L., et al. (2015). A framework for increasing physical activity in individuals with mental illness. Psychological Services, 12(4), 395-404. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000078
Schuch, F. B., et al. (2016). Exercise and the treatment of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 73(6), 557-564. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0298
Sibley, B. A., & Etnier, J. L. (2002). The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children: A meta-analysis. Pediatric Exercise Science, 14(3), 243-256.
Smith, L., et al. (2021). Physical activity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. Health Psychology Review, 15(3), 271-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2020.1866264
Sonstroem, R. J. (1997). Physical activity and self-esteem. En W. P. Morgan (Ed.), Physical activity and mental health (pp. 127-143). Hemisphere.
Teixeira, C., & Kalinoski, S. (2003). La importancia del deporte como factor social en las matrículas en escuelas deportivas de la administración pública de Pindamonhangaba, Brasil. Efdeportes, Revista Digital, Año 9, N° 60.
Thayer, R. E., Newman, R., & McClain, T. M. (1994). Self-regulation of mood: Strategies for changing a bad mood, raising energy, and reducing tension. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(5), 910-925.
This article reflects on how physical activity not only benefits the body, but is also a powerful tool for emotional well-being. In a scenario where depression and anxiety are common difficulties impacting millions, it is vital to understand this relationship. The WHO estimates that approximately 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression, highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention strategies.
Research has shown that physical exercise has a positive influence on mental health. A systematic review found that physical activity can be as effective as antidepressant drugs in the therapy of depression. This phenomenon is the result of a mixture of biological and psychological factors; physical activity increases the generation of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonin, which are essential for controlling mood. In addition, exercise helps boost self-esteem and self-confidence, essential factors for those dealing with emotional problems.
Carratala, V., & Carratala, E. (1999). El judo en edades tempranas. Una propuesta de competición. Ponencia presentada en el I Congreso sobre la actividad física y el deporte en la universidad. Universidad de Valencia.
Clínica Alemana. (2002). Sedentarismo chileno: ¿preocupante o una exageración? Santiago, Chile. Disponible en http://www.alemana.cl
Craft, L. L., & Perna, F. M. (2004). The benefits of exercise for the clinically depressed. Primary Care Companion to The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 6(3), 104-111. https://doi.org/10.4088/PCC.v06n0301
Davis, C., Kennedy, S., Ravelski, E., & Dionea, M. (1994). The role of physical activity in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Psychological Medicine, 24, 957-967.
Dunn, A. L., Trivedi, M. H., & O'Neal, H. A. (2001). Physical activity dose-response effects on outcomes of depression and anxiety. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 33(6), S587-S597.
Eime, R. M., Young, J. A., Harvey, J. T., & Charity, M. J. (2013). A framework for sport and recreation participation and mental wellbeing. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 47(9), 916-920. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867413493341
Eime, R. M., Young, J. A., Harvey, J. T., & Charity, M. J. (2013). A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for adults: informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10(1), 135.
Kubota, K. (2002). Effects of physical training on cognitive function: A neurocognitive approach to mental fitness. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 1(1), 47-53.
Long, B. C., & Stavel, R. (1995). Effects of exercise training on anxiety: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 7(2), 167-189.
Mikkelsen, K., Stigsdotter, U. K., & Høgh-Jensen, M. (2017). The influence of physical activity on mental health: A review of the literature. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 27(6), 618-630. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12615
Organización Mundial de la Salud. (2021). Depression. Disponible en https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
Paluska, S. A., & Schwenk, T. L. (2000). Physical activity and mental health: Current concepts. Sports Medicine, 29(3), 167-180.
Perrin, P. B., et al. (2020). Social support and health-related quality of life in patients with depression: The role of social networks. Quality of Life Research, 29(5), 1331-1340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-020-02566-1
Ramírez, W., Vinaccia, S., & Suárez, G. R. (2004). El impacto de la actividad física y el deporte sobre la salud, la cognición, la socialización y el rendimiento académico: Una revisión teórica. Revista de Estudios Sociales, 18, 67-75.
Rebar, A. L., et al. (2015). A framework for increasing physical activity in individuals with mental illness. Psychological Services, 12(4), 395-404. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000078
Schuch, F. B., et al. (2016). Exercise and the treatment of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 73(6), 557-564. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0298
Sibley, B. A., & Etnier, J. L. (2002). The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children: A meta-analysis. Pediatric Exercise Science, 14(3), 243-256.
Smith, L., et al. (2021). Physical activity and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. Health Psychology Review, 15(3), 271-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2020.1866264
Sonstroem, R. J. (1997). Physical activity and self-esteem. En W. P. Morgan (Ed.), Physical activity and mental health (pp. 127-143). Hemisphere.
Teixeira, C., & Kalinoski, S. (2003). La importancia del deporte como factor social en las matrículas en escuelas deportivas de la administración pública de Pindamonhangaba, Brasil. Efdeportes, Revista Digital, Año 9, N° 60.
Thayer, R. E., Newman, R., & McClain, T. M. (1994). Self-regulation of mood: Strategies for changing a bad mood, raising energy, and reducing tension. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(5), 910-925.
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