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Exercise and it's Effect on Mental Health

Exercise is an activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness and mental health is a person’s condition about their psychological and emotional well-being. Exercise can be a wide range of activities from an intense gym workout, to playing sports, and even yoga. Mental health can affect how one feels, acts, and thinks to help a person determine how to handle stress. Exercise can be effective for mental health by providing stress relief, and improving overall mood, and it can also affect one's social interactions.

Stress

The picture above is the cellular break down of endorphins

Stress is the response of a body when it is put under pressure. Not only does stress affect a person mentally but it can also affect a person physically causing high blood pressure and a weakened immune system.  According to the American Psychological Association (APA), "Preliminary evidence suggests that physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people"[1]. Another reason why exercise can help reduce this is because of the endorphins released during exercise. These endorphins are a type of "mood boosters" that can boost your overall mood which helps reduce stress.

Mood

Mood is an emotional state of mind or feeling. Exercise can also help increase a person's overall mood. As mentioned before endorphins are also another big factor in to increase of mood. Exercise also causes the brain to release neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, these have a big impact on a person's emotions and mood. Studies found that exercise, particularly aerobic and strength training, had a significant impact on reducing depressive symptoms. The accomplishment of finishing an exercise activity for the day can also be a boost of self-esteem which can also improve your mood.

Social Behavior

The final subject I've researched about exercise and its effect on mental health would be the increase in social interaction. Social interaction is an event that occurs between two or more individuals. Social interactions can help decrease help with depression and other mental health issues. Social interactions also bring a sense of belonging to a person. Many forms of exercise bring out social interactions but the most common being team sports like basketball. In team sports, you are provided with multiple opportunities to communicate with your team and support each other. However, the social aspect of exercise can differ based on a person's preference.

References

1. American Psychological Association (APA). (2020). Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/exercise-stress
2. National Sleep Foundation. (2021). Exercise and sleep. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/exercise-and-sleep
3. Reed, J., & Ones, D. S. (2013). The effect of physical activity on psychological well-being: A critical review. Health Psychology, 32(3), 301-309.
4. Schuch, F. B., et al. (2018). Exercise as a treatment for depression: A meta-analysis adjusting for publication bias. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(6), 487-496.
5. Sofi, F., et al. (2020). Physical activity and risk of cognitive decline: A meta-analysis of prospective studies. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(11), 664-669.