Physical Activity and Mental Health in Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Most research support positive relationships between physical activity and mental health. However, possible moderating variables of these relationships have also been identified, such as age, gender, level of physical activity, and the scope of physical activity. This study aimed to analyze the relationships between physical activity and mental health levels in undergraduate students, assessing whether these associations can change depending on the level of physical activity (low, medium, or high) and the setting (occupational, commuting, or leisure time physical activity) in which it was performed. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample comprised 847 undergraduate students. Physical activity and mental health were measured by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQv2) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). We found relationships between students’ physical activity level and their mental health status. The higher the total physical activity, the better their mental health scores. High levels of commuting and leisure time physical activity is also associated with better mental health, while only moderate levels of occupational physical activity are associated with better mental health status. Regarding the possible associations between physical activity and vulnerability to mental health problems, with the fully adjusted regression model, leisure time and occupational physical activity remain protective of a poor state of mental health. Leisure time physical activity, performed at a high level, and moderate occupational physical activity seems to be the best combination of physical activity to reduce students’ vulnerability to potential mental health problems.

Gender differences in barriers to physical exercise among university students studying physical activity and sports sciences

“…Female PASS students reported significantly higher GHQ-12 total scores, a result that is in agreement with several reports that female university students have significantly worse mental health than male students, regardless of the field of study or country (Eskin et al, 2016;Pohjola et al, 2021;Rodríguez-Romo et al, 2022;Zhang et al, 2022). However, in this study, high GHQ-12 scores were found in both women and men, suggesting the presence of high levels of psychological disorders or poor mental health.…”

“…Our results also showed a positive correlation between barriers to taking part in physical exercise and the mental health of PASS students. This outcome is understandable, given that a high level of total physical activity improves mental health (Abrantes et al, 2022; Bai et al, 2022; El Ansari and Salam, 2021; Grasdalsmoen et al, 2020; Rodríguez-Romo et al, 2022). Encountering barriers to physical exercise is associated with a negative impact on the overall mental health of PASS students.…”

Physically Inactive Undergraduate Students Exhibit More Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Poor Quality of Life than Physically Active Students

“…These findings are in line with previous studies reporting elevated frequencies of students not meeting physical activity guidelines [28][29][30], which may negatively affect health-related parameters. Indeed, studies have demonstrated that physically inactive undergraduate students exhibit poor health-related outcomes such as sleep disorders [31,32], obesity [33], inadequate nutritional habits [34], and mental health issues [35]. These data extend the risk of physical inactivity to the health of undergraduate students since higher scores of anxiety, depression, and poor quality of life were also observed in physically inactive students than their physically active counterparts.…”

The Nonlinear Effect of Adolescent Self-control and Mental Health: The Mediating Role of School Adaptation and the Moderating Role of Physical Activity

“…Regular participation in physical activities can enhance self-control resources and school adaptation [51][52] . Studies have shown that high levels of leisure-time physical activity and moderate levels of work-time physical activity constitute the optimal combination of physical activities to reduce mental health problems 53 . Physical activity helps individuals break free from the fatigue of daily life, providing time for psychological resource recovery 54 , and also helps individuals reduce sensitivity to negative external feedback and alleviate mental fatigue 55 Extracurricular physical exercise promotes school adaptation and mental health in adolescents 56 .…”