Past research has shown that physical activity has a direct effect on our mental health. A new study, however, says the reverse: that our mental wellbeing directly influences our physical activity.
Researchers from the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland conducted questionnaires and interviews to analyze the effects of mental wellbeing over time. They investigated each dimension of mental wellbeing, including emotional, psychological, and social health.
The team was surprised to see that individuals who scored high in overall mental wellbeing at the age of 42 were more active at age 50 than those who received a lower score in mental wellbeing at the age of 42.
They say that, according to their study, we should maintain our mental wellbeing to ensure an active lifestyle later.
Source:
Kekalainen, T., Freund, A. M., Sipila, S., Kokko, K. (2019, March 21). Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations between Leisure Time Physical Activity, Mental Well-Being and Subjective Health in Middle Adulthood. Applied Research in Quality of Life. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11482-019-09721-4
