Effects of Exercise on Anxiety and Depression Essays

Critically Analyse the Research Findings on the Acute and Chronic Effects of Exercise on Anxiety and Depression It has long been speculated that there is a relationship between exercise and it effects on anxiety and depression. However, it is not until recently that research has shown that exercise is associated with positive changes in mood and reductions in anxiety and depression. According to the Mental Health Victoria, depression is characterised by prolonged feelings of sadness, dejection and hopelessness and will affect one in four women and one in six men at some point in their lives. In the United States, anxiety disorders and depression are the most common mental health disorders costing the public $45 billion a year (Berger,†¦show more content†¦399). Investigations on the chronic effects of exercise have involved programs which last approximately 2-4 months consisting of two to four sessions per week. Most research on effects of acute exercise has focused on the reduction of state anxiety. Recent studies, (Focht Hausenblas, 2001; Ekkekakis, Hall Petruzzello, 1999) showed that aerobic exercise resulted in lowered state anxiety and higher tranquility scores. In addition to this, other research has revealed that moderate-intensity exercise produced the greatest positive effects in affective responses implying that the anxiety reduction following exercise occurs regardless of the intensity, duration or type of exercise (Berger, Pargman Weinberg, 2002, pp. 399-401). Raglin and Morgan (1987) found that state anxiety was reduced for 24 hours after the exercise bout, whereas participants in a control rest condition returned to baseline levels within 30 minutes (Berger, Pargman Weinberg, 2002, pp. 400). Although acute exercise is no more effective in decreasing state anxiety than quiet rest of distraction, the effects last longer. According to Breus and O’Connor (1998), the decrease in state anxiety after exercise lasted several hours, which was more than in the distraction and quiet rest groups. This implies that positive effects may be gained afte r a few weeks of training, but enduring effects may only be achieved through continuous exercise. There is a need to developShow MoreRelatedMusic Therapy And Depression922 Words   |  4 Pagessingle geographic area, which also restricts the applicability of the findings to other populations. Anxiety and depression can also be relieved through music therapy and muscle relaxation training exercise; nurses can supervise patients several times through deep muscle relaxation (McGregor Antoni, 2009) and through tension relaxation exercise which can cultivate their abilities to perform the exercise by themselves (Stuart and Laraia, 2008). 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