A Cross-Sectional Study on Physical Activity and Psychological Distress in Adults with Asthma

Abstract

Physical Activity (PA) could contribute to decreasing psychological distress and improving Self-Perceived Health (SPH) in adults with Asthma. The main objective of this study was to analyse the associations between the Physical Activity Level (PAL) Perceived Social Support (PSS) and Mental Health, using the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and SPH in the adult population with Asthma. This descriptive cross-sectional study is based on data from the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey, including 1040 participants with Asthma in the study. The Kruskal–Wallis test was performed to study the hypothetical differences between the PAL and the different variables derived from the GHQ-12. In addition, correlations between the variables generated and the items of the GHQ-12, together with the PAL and the Duke-UNC-11, were analysed using Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients. Inverse correlations were found between Mental Health and PSS (rho: −0.351) and between Mental Health and PAL (rho: −0.209), as well as in the rest of the GHQ-12 items: successful coping (rho: −0.197), self-esteem (rho: −0.193) and stress (rho: −0.145). The more active subjects had better SPH. Therefore, the research showed how higher PAL and positive SPH are related to lower psychological distress in adults with Asthma.

Higher physical activity level and perceived social support is associated with less psychological distress in people with anxiety

“…Suggestions for the best amount and highest limit of physical activity to decrease anxiety symptoms have been proposed for the general population ( Kim et al, 2020 ), and both resistance and aerobic exercise have been shown to improve anxiety and psychological distress ( LeBouthillier & Asmundson, 2017 ). In line with the present findings, PA has been also reported to be inversely correlated with successful coping and self-esteem in adults with asthma ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022e ), the same was found for these two variables and also for stress in adults with depression ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ), in adults with cancerous tumours ( Franco-García et al, 2023 ) and in a population of informal caregivers ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022c ). Successful coping ability ( Craven et al, 2022 ; Dahlstrand et al, 2021 ; Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ; Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022e ), stress ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022c ; Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ) and self-steem ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022c ; Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ) seem to be improved by performing PA, which supports the available research that suggests the potential of PA on the prevention of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders ( Harvey et al, 2010 ; Herring, Lindheimer & O’Connor, 2014 ; Ji et al, 2022 ; Kandola et al, 2018 ; Lautenschlager et al, 2004 ; Schuch et al, 2019 ; Stubbs et al, 2017 ; Wijndaele et al, 2007 ).…”

“…In line with the present findings, PA has been also reported to be inversely correlated with successful coping and self-esteem in adults with asthma ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022e ), the same was found for these two variables and also for stress in adults with depression ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ), in adults with cancerous tumours ( Franco-García et al, 2023 ) and in a population of informal caregivers ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022c ). Successful coping ability ( Craven et al, 2022 ; Dahlstrand et al, 2021 ; Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ; Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022e ), stress ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022c ; Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ) and self-steem ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022c ; Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ) seem to be improved by performing PA, which supports the available research that suggests the potential of PA on the prevention of depression, anxiety and other mental disorders ( Harvey et al, 2010 ; Herring, Lindheimer & O’Connor, 2014 ; Ji et al, 2022 ; Kandola et al, 2018 ; Lautenschlager et al, 2004 ; Schuch et al, 2019 ; Stubbs et al, 2017 ; Wijndaele et al, 2007 ). Despite the correlations found among PAL and GHQ-12 items and dimensions, and the available research supporting that performing greater PA is associated with a better mental state, cause–effect relationships cannot be stablished between performing larger PA and a better state in the dimensions evaluated by GHQ-12, including mental health.…”

“…Moderate inverse correlations have been reported between PSS and anxiety and depression ( Guo, Tan & Zhu, 2022 ), and also small direct correlations among PSS and mental health ( Dong et al, 2022 ). In this line other investigations found that mental health (evaluated by GHQ-12), successful coping, self-confidence and stress were inversely correlated to PSS ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ; Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022e ; Franco-García et al, 2023 ) in various populations. This is in line with the results of the present study and could suggest that higher PSS is associated with greater mental well-being ( Adamczyk & Segrin, 2015 ; Dong et al, 2022 ; Guo, Tan & Zhu, 2022 ; Singh, Verma & Lata, 2022 ).…”

“…This is in line with the results of the present study and could suggest that higher PSS is associated with greater mental well-being ( Adamczyk & Segrin, 2015 ; Dong et al, 2022 ; Guo, Tan & Zhu, 2022 ; Singh, Verma & Lata, 2022 ). Furthermore, small inverse correlations were found among PSS and all the GHQ-12 items, which may indicate that greater PSS is associated with lower scores in the mental health variables derived from the GHQ-12, Similar results were found in a population of people with depression ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022d ), asthma ( Denche-Zamorano et al., 2022e ) and people with cancerous tumours ( Franco-García et al, 2023 ) where PSS had significant inverse correlations with the GHQ-12 items. While correlations among PSS and GHQ-12 items, and its dimensions (mental health, successful copping, self-esteem and stress) has been found, and it suggests that greater PSS is associated with a better state of the mentioned dimensions, cause–effect relationships cannot be stablished at the light of the present results.…”

Association between Asthma and Lower Levels of Physical Activity: Results of a Population-Based Case–Control Study in Spain

“…Pharmacological stepwise therapy is the first line of treatment for asthma. Current treatment guidelines for this disease highlight management with inhaled corticosteroids alone or in combination with a long-acting beta-agonist [2][3][4].…”