TY - JOUR
T1 - Adherence to aerobic and muscle-strengthening components of the physical activity guidelines and mental health
AU - Shannon, Stephen
AU - Carlin, Angela
AU - Woods, Catherine
AU - Nevill, Alan M.
AU - Murphy, Niamh
AU - Murphy, Marie H.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Crown copyright.
PY - 2022/10/1
Y1 - 2022/10/1
N2 - Despite a clear distinction between aerobic and muscle strengthening (MS) components in the physical activity guidelines, public health surveillance has largely focused only on aerobic components, limiting the reach of epidemiological research on the physical activity guidelines. Hence, this study investigated the association between adherence to both components (i.e. aerobic and muscle-strengthening) of the World Health Organization's physical activity guidelines and mental health among the college student population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a nationally representative sample of Irish college students (7088 participants, M age: 23.17 years; 50.9% female). Participants were categorized as meeting both components of the guidelines (n = 41%), only the aerobic component (n = 25.3%) or the MS component (n = 7.3%), and neither (n = 26.4%). Group membership effects on mental health was determined through mixed univariate ANOVAs, with a Bonferroni correction for post hoc analyses to assess multiple comparisons. Results revealed that meeting both components of the guidelines was significantly (all p < 0.01) associated with greater self-reported happiness, body image and general health, and less mental ill-being, relative to all other respective groupings. Meeting aerobic or MS components in isolation was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with better happiness, general health and body image compared to not meeting either component. To conclude, 59% of the college-Aged population are insufficiently active, and adherence to both guideline components is positively associated with mental health. Co-produced, evidence-based, physical activity interventions are needed in students and could contribute to mental health promotion.
AB - Despite a clear distinction between aerobic and muscle strengthening (MS) components in the physical activity guidelines, public health surveillance has largely focused only on aerobic components, limiting the reach of epidemiological research on the physical activity guidelines. Hence, this study investigated the association between adherence to both components (i.e. aerobic and muscle-strengthening) of the World Health Organization's physical activity guidelines and mental health among the college student population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a nationally representative sample of Irish college students (7088 participants, M age: 23.17 years; 50.9% female). Participants were categorized as meeting both components of the guidelines (n = 41%), only the aerobic component (n = 25.3%) or the MS component (n = 7.3%), and neither (n = 26.4%). Group membership effects on mental health was determined through mixed univariate ANOVAs, with a Bonferroni correction for post hoc analyses to assess multiple comparisons. Results revealed that meeting both components of the guidelines was significantly (all p < 0.01) associated with greater self-reported happiness, body image and general health, and less mental ill-being, relative to all other respective groupings. Meeting aerobic or MS components in isolation was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with better happiness, general health and body image compared to not meeting either component. To conclude, 59% of the college-Aged population are insufficiently active, and adherence to both guideline components is positively associated with mental health. Co-produced, evidence-based, physical activity interventions are needed in students and could contribute to mental health promotion.
KW - college
KW - exercise
KW - mental illness
KW - resistance
KW - well-being
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140856272&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/heapro/daac083
DO - 10.1093/heapro/daac083
M3 - Article
C2 - 36287521
AN - SCOPUS:85140856272
SN - 0957-4824
VL - 37
JO - Health Promotion International
JF - Health Promotion International
IS - 5
M1 - daac083
ER -