PHYSICAL FITNESS, BUT NOT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, IS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS

Authors

W Blumenburg
J Frederick
B Cross
M Culver
A Montoye, FACSM
A Flatt
G Grosicki

Abstract

Wesley Blumenburg¹, Josiah Frederick¹, Brett Cross¹, Meral Culver¹, Alexander Montoye, FACSM², Andrew Flatt¹, Greg Grosicki¹. ¹Georgia southern university, savannah, GA. ²alma college, Alma, MI.

PURPOSE: The prevalence of mental health disorders is rising globally. Despite the popularity of exercise as a strategy to promote mental health in individuals with anxiety or depression, there is a paucity of literature on this topic in apparently healthy young individuals who are free from mental illness. METHODS: We characterized relationships between actigraphy-derived physical activity levels and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂max; via maximal graded exercise testing), with mental health assessed using psychometric questionnaires (Profile of mood states and Perceived stress scale) in apparently healthy young adults (26±4.3yrs; 22 females and 26 males). RESULTS: In females and males combined, relative VO₂max (33.5±8.1 ml/kg/min) was associated (P<0.01) with POMS (r=-0.454) and PSS (r=-0.510) scores, and relationships between fitness and POMS were preserved (P<0.05) after controlling for body fat (27.2±9.9%). Additionally, VO₂max was associated (P<0.05) with numerous POMS subcomponents (tension, anger, fatigue, depression, confusion; all=P<0.05). No relationships (P>0.05) were observed between physical activity profiles (sedentary time, light intensity time, moderate-vigorous intensity time, total steps, counts per day) with POMS or PSS scores, and only total steps was associated with relative VO₂max (r=0.331; P=0.021). Relationships between relative VO₂max and POMS scores were also observed in males (r=-0.407, P=0.039) and females (r=-0.490; P=0.021) individually, but VO₂max and PSS relationships were exclusive to males (r=-0.516, P=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Independent of body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, but not actigraphy-derived physical activity, is associated with mental health in apparently healthy young males and females. To maximize mental health benefits, exercise training interventions are advised to focus on eliciting improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness.

Recommended Citation

Blumenburg, W; Frederick, J; Cross, B; Culver, M; Montoye, FACSM, A; Flatt, A; and Grosicki, G (2022) "PHYSICAL FITNESS, BUT NOT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, IS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 16: Iss. 1, Article 139.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol16/iss1/139