Physical activity and mental health - Author's reply

The effects of physical exercise on anxiety symptoms of college students: A meta-analysis

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an exercise intervention on improving and alleviating anxiety symptoms in college students with a meta-analytical approach.

Methods

Several databases (e.g., PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library) were used to search for randomized controlled trials (in short, RCTs) on interventions for physical exercise or aerobic exercise in college students with anxiety symptoms. Stata software, version 16.0, was applied sequentially for traditional meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and publication bias analysis.

Results

A total of nine papers were included. The total literature effect [SMD = −0.55, 95% CI = −0.76 to −0.35, Z = 5.38 (P < 0.001)] indicated that physical activity had a significant effect on alleviating anxiety. Subgroup analysis also showed that exercise interventions using aerobic exercise or yoga were effective in relieving anxiety (SMD = −0.39, 95% CI = −0.74 to −0.04; SMD = −0.76, 95% CI = −1.14 to −0.39).

Conclusion

Physical activity interventions were shown to have a positive effect on alleviating anxiety in college students. Aerobic exercise was found to be the optimal mode.

Actividad física y calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en una comunidad académica

Objetivo. Explorar las diferencias entre los niveles de actividad física (AF) ‒ligero, moderado y vigoroso‒, en función a la Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud (CvRS). Método. 269 participantes (M = 25.3, DE = 1.5) entre estudiantes, docentes y administrativos de una comunidad académica de Pereira, Colombia. La AF se evaluó con el International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) y la CvRS con el Cuestionario de Salud SF-36. Resultados. Quienes reportaron tener un nivel de AF moderado mostraron significativamente mejor vitalidad, salud mental y salud en general (p < 0.05). Mientras que aquellos con nivel de AF vigoroso promediaron más alto en salud general. Los niveles de AF moderado y vigoroso, en comparación con el ligero, presentaron mayor puntaje en la salud general y mental (p < 0.05). Conclusión. Este estudio aportó evidencia a favor de la hipótesis del vínculo entre AF y CvRS; además, reveló que aquellos con niveles de AF moderado y vigoroso presentan mejor CvRS en dimensiones de función social, vitalidad y salud general y mental. Futuros estudios deberían enfocarse en diferenciar los niveles de AF que mejor favorecen la CvRS, principalmente, en población escolar.

A Clinician and Service User's Perspective on Managing MS: Pleasure, Purpose, Practice

There is a growing body of evidence that points to an important role for modification of lifestyle factors and promotion of health-related quality of life in the secondary prevention of disease progression in multiple sclerosis (D'Hooghe et al., 2010; Weiland et al., 2014; Hadgkiss et al., 2015). As a clinical psychologist diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012 I have gained a unique insight into ways in which people living with MS and clinicians can usefully integrate evidence-based lifestyle modifications that enhance self-efficacy and self-management to improve wider psychological and physical health. The framework presented here enables clinicians to engage in salutogenic health promotion by placing value upon the importance of healthy, evidence-based behavior change. Furthermore, the framework provides a structure which can empower and provide guidance for people living with MS on what and how to implement and sustain behavior change and emotional wellbeing in the face of this life-changing diagnosis.