Gymnastics, Greek Traditional Dance and Tennis as Leisure-Time Physical Activities: Which One Triggers the Most Positive Psychological Responses?

Abstract

Participating in leisure-time physical activity (PA) is thought to positively associate withmental health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute psychologicalresponses of adults who take part in different types of leisure-time PA (gymnastics; Greektraditional dance; tennis). A total of 277 adults, aged 18-65 years (M= 35.9, SD= 12.76years), taking part in Greek traditional dance (n=89), gymnastics (n=88), or tennis (n=100)volunteered to participate. In order for potential changes in participants’ positive well-being,psychological distress and perceived fatigue to be examined, the Subjective ExerciseExperiences Scale (SEES) was administered before and after a session of the aforementionedprogrammes. The 3 (group [gymnastics vs Greek traditional dance vs tennis]) X 2 (time [pretestvs post-test) analyses of variance that were performed on the SEES subscales (positivewell-being; psychological distress; fatigue) revealed practically significant improvements inthe positive well-being for all participants (p<.001, η2=.25) and statistically significantinteractions (though not of practical importance) between group and time in positive wellbeing(p<.001, η2=.068), psychological distress (p<.05, η2=.02) and fatigue (p<.05,η2=.033), with participants in gymnastics presenting the most optimal results, followed bythose of Greek traditional dance. Although further research is needed to fully understand thefeatures of a PA/exercise that lead to the greatest boost in people’s well-being, taking intoaccount the growing prevalence of mental health disorders in our society, encouraging adultsto join in a leisure-time PA/exercise programme seems imperative for their (psychological)health benefit.