Aerobic fitness and leisure physical activity as moderators of the stress-illness relation

Abstract

Exercise as a moderator of the stress-illness relation was examined by exploring leisure physical activity and aerobic fitness as potential "buffers" of the association between minor stress on physical and psychological symptoms in a sample of 135 college students. The goal was to gather information regarding the mechanisms by which exercise exhibits its buffering effects. Researchers have examined both physical activity and physical fitness in an attempt to demonstrate this effect; however, whether both of these components are necessary to achieve the protective effects against stress is unknown. This study examined engaging in leisure physical activity and having high aerobic fitness to determine if both were necessary for the stress-buffering effects or if one factor was more important than the other. Findings suggested a buffering effect for leisure physical activity against physical symptoms and anxiety associated with minor stress. This effect was not found with depression. Additionally, there was no moderating effect for aerobic fitness on physical or psychological symptoms. Collectively, the data suggested that participation in leisure physical activity as opposed to level of aerobic fitness is important to the stress-buffering effect of exercise. Implications for exercise prescription are discussed.

Can Physical Activity Moderate the Relationship between School Related Stress and Health Complaints among Japanese Elementary School Children

“…In other words, physical activity in this age group had neither direct nor buffering effects on health outcome. The fi ndings of this study are inconsistent with previous studies of adolescent populations seeking to determine whether physical activity exhibits a negative infl uence on health outcomes (Sothern, et al, 1999;Uechi, et al, 2000;Haugland, et al, 2003) and moderates the relationship between stress levels and health outcomes (Brown & Siegel, 1988;Norris, et al, 1992;Carmack, et al, 1999;Haugland, et al, 2003). Sallis & Owen (1999) concluded that most of the associations between physical activity and health indicators in young people are weak compared with those in adults.…”

“…A study by Carmack, et al, (1999) showed a buffering effect of physical activity on physical symptoms and anxiety associated with minor stress in a college sample; however, this effect was not found with depression. These results suggest that the stress-buffering effect of physical activity may vary according to different health outcomes.…”

Does physical activity moderate the relationship between depression symptomatology and low back pain? Cohort and co-twin control analyses nested in the longitudinal study of aging Danish twins (LSADT)

“…Previous research has also shown that interactions between psychological distress and PA can predict illness. Findings from Carmack et al [11], for instance, suggested a buffering effect for leisure PA against physical symptoms and anxiety associated with minor stress, i.e. the association between stress and anxiety was stronger in participants with low levels of PA than in highly active participants.…”

“…Previous work has shown that physical activity (PA) can be a moderator that buffers the effects of psychological distress on illness, i.e. individuals who are physically active showed reduced reactivity to psychological distress compared with inactive individuals [11,12]. However, no study has investigated whether PA interacts with depression symptomatology to predict LBP, i.e.…”

Gesundheitspotenziale des Hochschulsports

“…Allgemein wird der Mög-lichkeit der Gesundheitsförderung durch Sport im Setting Hochschule im deutschsprachigen Forschungsraum bislang wenig Beachtung geschenkt. Zwar existieren derzeit kaum noch Zweifel, dass eine allgemeine Sportausübung eine Unterbrechung chronischer Spannungszustän-de bewirken [12], von Belastungen ablenken [4] sowie gesundheitlichen Beschwerden direkt entgegenwirken kann [11], nach wie vor besteht aber das Problem mangelnder Evidenzbasierung. Dies gilt sowohl für den Bereich der sozialen Unterstützung im Sport [6] …”