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Research often points to exercise as a good way to boost mental health, but a recent study suggests that it\u2019s not just physical movement that affects mental health.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s how, where, and why you exercise that makes the difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically, physical activity research has focused on how long someone exercises for or how many calories were burned,\u201d says Patrick O\u2019Connor, coauthor of the study and a professor in the University of Georgia\u2019s Mary Frances Early College of Education\u2019s kinesiology department.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe \u2018dose\u2019 of exercise has been the dominant way researchers have tried to understand how physical activity might influence mental health<\/a>, while often ignoring whether those minutes were spent exercising with a friend or as part of a game.\u201d<\/p>\n While research shows that leisure-time physical activity\u2014like going for a run, taking a yoga class, or biking for fun\u2014correlates with better mental health outcomes, these benefits may vary significantly depending on the environment and circumstances surrounding the activity, according to the researchers.<\/p>\n To analyze these factors, the researchers reviewed three types of studies. These included large-scale epidemiological studies that examined health patterns in populations, randomized controlled trials where some groups received exercise treatments and others did not, and a much smaller but growing set of investigations into contextual factors.<\/p>\n Multiple studies found that people who engage in regular leisure-time physical activity tend to report lower levels of depression and anxiety. But it\u2019s less clear for other forms of activity like cleaning the house or working for a lawn care company. The context may matter as much as the intensity or amount of physical activity.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, if a soccer player runs down the field and kicks the game-winning ball, their mental health is fantastic,\u201d O\u2019Connor says.<\/p>\n \u201cIn contrast, if you do the exact same exercise but miss the goal and people are blaming you, you likely feel very differently. Anecdotes such as these show how context matters even when people are performing a similar exercise dose.\u201d<\/p>\n