Mental Well-being Fuels Physical Fitness: Study Suggests - Video

According to a recent study, the tendency to experience positive affectivity contributed to people being physically active or even increasing their activity during the COVID-19 restrictions. In contrast, depressive feelings were linked to lower physical activity. The results suggest that mental well-being can help maintain a physically active lifestyle. Mental well-being and physical activity may thus form a positive cycle. The findings are published in

BMC public health.

In the study it was found that most men and women aged 60 to 88 either maintained or even increased their level of physical activity during the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants who experienced more positive affectivity had higher physical activity levels and were more likely to increase their activity during the restrictions.

Previous research evidence has shown that physical activity contributes to mental well-being. However, recent findings suggest that mental well-being can also help maintain a physically active lifestyle. Mental well-being and physical activity may thus form a positive cycle.

The study also found that experiencing depressive feelings during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with lower levels of physical activity and a higher likelihood of reducing activity. The link between depressive feelings and lower physical activity was particularly pronounced among participants over 70. The findings suggest that different aspects of mental well-being may have varying significance for physical activity at different ages.

Reference: Savikangas, T., Kekäläinen, T., Tirkkonen, A. et al. The associations of positive and negative mental well-being with physical activity during the COVID-19 across late adulthood. BMC Public Health 24, 3288 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20803-3