Abstract
PURPOSE: Increasingly, mental health is a concern among young adults. It is known that physical activity can improve mental health. The present investigation sought to examine the associations of physical activity on mental health by sex.
METHODS: Eighty-one young adults (20.5±1.5 years) took part in the investigation. The participants underwent body fat percentage assessment and completed the Depression, Stress and Anxiety Scale (DASS 21) and the Leisure and Physical Activity Survey (LPA). Data were analyzed for associations between sex, physical/sedentary activities, body composition and mental health via multiple linear regression analysis.
RESULTS: Female participants (n=49) reported less weightlifting exercise (p<0.001, 55% 0-2 days, 41% 3-5 days, 4% 6-7 days) compared to males (23% 0-2 days, 61% 3-5 days, 16% 6-7 days); however, no significant sex differences were noted for aerobic exercise. Physical activity by sex was regressed against scores from the DASS 21.Significant interactions were noted between sex and min/day of aerobic exercise (F=6.26, p=0.003) and days/week engaged in weightlifting exercise (F=5.46, p=0.006) for anxiety. In contrast to males, females engaged in higher numbers of weight training sessions and reported increased anxiety (0-2 days: 5.33±4.28; 3-5 days: 5.65±5.51; 6-7 days: 7.50±9.19).Whereas increasing time of aerobic exercise among females was associated with lower anxiety (0-15 min per session: 12.5±5.0; 16-30 min per session: 4.65±4.74; >30 minutes per session: 4.47±2.87), male students who engaged in more days per week of weight lifting exercise reported lower levels of anxiety (0-2 days: 10.00±5.88; 3-5 days: 4.52±2.98; 6-7 days: 3.6±3.21).
CONCLUSIONS: For college-aged females, a focus on time engaged in aerobic exercise may produce not only cardiovascular benefits, but also psychological, and encouraging resistance exercise among college males may have similar results. University and college communities should encourage different patterns of exercise for male and female students to reduce anxiety.