Relationship between physical activity and individual mental health after traumatic events: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Traumatic events can cause social tension, anxiety, panic and other psychological crises, and can even cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide. Physical activity has a good role in promoting mental health, and has a great application prospect in individual psychological intervention after traumatic events. However, no systematic review of the relationship between physical activity and individual mental health after traumatic events affecting many people has been published so far, which makes it impossible for people to understand the research status in this field from a holistic perspective. Objective: This review explores the relationship between physical activity and individual psychology, physiology, subjective quality of life and well-being after traumatic events, so as to provide some valuable clues or enlightenment for individual psychological intervention after traumatic events. Method: Relevant literature was searched in five databases, summarised, sorted and studied. Results: Thirty-three study papers were included in this review, the main study findings include: (1) Physical activity is positively correlated with individual mental resilience and subjective well-being after traumatic events, and negatively correlated with anxiety, depression, tension and PTSD. (2) Individuals with higher levels of physical activity have better mental health status after traumatic events than those who do not regularly engage in physical activity. (3) Physical activity can promote sleep quality, self-efficacy, subjective quality of life and various physiological functions of those experiencing traumatic events. (4) Physical activity (including exercise) is regarded as one of the preferred nursing measures to buffer against mental stress and maintain physical and mental health for those experiencing traumatic events. Conclusion: The level of physical activity is positively correlated with individual physical and mental health before and after traumatic events. Physical activity can be used as one of the effective measures to improve individual mental health after traumatic events.

RETRACTED: How Does Physical Activity Enhance the Subjective Well-Being of University Students? A Chain Mediation of Cognitive Reappraisal and Resilience

“…However, after actively coping with and overcoming these difficulties, university students can form a more stress-resistant and resilient state of mind, which can help them to effectively cope with and adapt to adverse stress events when facing similar situations again in the future and maintain a more positive attitude towards life and their emotional states. In addition, university students with higher psychological resilience can use multiple problem-solving strategies to alleviate the adverse effects of stressful events in physical activity, maintain their psychological health, and have less anxiety and depression when facing problems [ 54 ]. In general, students with higher resilience are less likely to experience anxiety and depression.…”

“…However, it belongs to prerequisite-focused emotion regulation, re-processing the causes of emotions. It mobilises more of one’s cognitive processing system to reappraise the explanations of the causes of emotions and changes one’s understanding of emotional events [ 54 ]. When there are more positive than negative emotions in daily life, it can lead to a more positive evaluation of one’s quality of life and, thus, provide a greater sense of perceived well-being.…”

Association between physical fitness index and psychological symptoms in left-behind children: a cross-sectional study from East China

“…Another limitation of our study was the lack of comprehensive factors investigated, such as eating habits, sleep quality, and physical activity. Those factors have been proven to be associated with the physical tness and mental health of individuals [40][41][42], and need to be further adjusted in subsequent models. Moreover, the cross-sectional design of our study may limit the accuracy of the results.…”

Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD

“…Self-perception may be an important target for therapy. Lifestyle factors Wang et al ( 2023 ) Relationship between physical activity and individual mental health after traumatic events: a systematic review Regular physical activity following traumatic events was associated with better well-being and fewer psychological symptoms. Physical activity may also buffer against symptom development and help maintain physical and mental health.…”

“…Two papers in this series focus on the impact of diet and exercise on post trauma functioning . Physical activity and its relation to psychological functioning was the focus of a review by (Wang et al, 2023 ) entitled ‘Relationship between physical activity and individual mental health after traumatic events: a systematic review’. They concluded that regular physical activity can be a protective factor against the development of symptoms as well as improve mental health functioning following exposure to traumatic events.…”