Where, How, and Why You Exercise Affects Mental Health: Study Provides Insights

Published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, a recent study from the University of Georgia highlights how, where, and why individuals exercise may significantly affect their mental health, sometimes more than the exercise itself.

For years, research has emphasized the importance of exercise for mental well-being. However, this new review suggests that the context in which physical activity occurs plays a crucial role in shaping its mental health outcomes.

Researchers analyzed three main categories of studies: large-scale epidemiological surveys that track health trends across populations, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing exercise interventions with control groups, and emerging research into the specific environments and conditions in which people exercise.

The findings confirmed that leisure-time physical activity such as running for fun or participating in group fitness classes generally correlates with reduced depression and anxiety. However, similar benefits were not consistently found for activities like housework or job-related physical labor. “If a soccer player runs down the field and kicks the game-winning ball, their mental health is fantastic. In contrast, if you do the exact same exercise but miss the goal and people are blaming you, you likely feel very differently,” said Patrick O'Connor, co-author of the study and a professor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education's Department of Kinesiology.

Although many RCTs showed improved mental health from regular exercise, their small sample sizes and short duration limited broader conclusions. The researchers advocate for more inclusive, longer-term studies to better understand exercise’s impact on mental health.

Ultimately, the study stresses the need to go beyond counting steps or calories. “If we’re trying to help people’s mental health with exercise, then not only do we need to think about the dose and the mode, we also need to ask: What is the context?” said O’Connor.

Reference: EDUARDO E. BUSTAMANTE, ANGELIQUE G. BRELLENTHIN, DAVID R. BROWN, PATRICK J. O’CONNOR. Up for Debate: Does Regular Physical Activity Really Improve Mental Health? Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2025; 57 (5): 1056 DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003636