Relationships between exercise and three components of mental well-being in corporate employees

Abstract

Objectives: The main purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships between exercise participation and three components of mental well-being (physical self, work-related, and global) in a sample of corporate employees. As a subsidiary and exploratory question, we also examined whether these well-being components are more strongly related to structured exercise participation scores compared to total levels of physical activity.Design: Cross-sectional survey.Method: The participants were 312 employees from an information technology company (n=204 males and n=108 females). Structural equation modelling was used to examine links between exercise participation and the three well-being components within a hierarchical framework, featuring global well-being constructs at the apex and specific elements of wellbeing at lower levels.Results: Support was found for the a priori model in that there were direct paths from exercise to physical self and enthusiasm at work. Furthermore, there were indirect paths between exercise and global well-being components through measures of the physical self and enthusiasm at work. The results of an alternative model using physical activity as opposed to exercise were generally similar. Conclusion:The support found for the exercise and well-being model indicates that exercise is associated directly and indirectly with high well-being in various facets of employees' lives. Thus, this study extends previous research that has examined associations between exercise and isolated indicators of employee well-being. Finally, the results pertaining to physical activity suggest that workplace exercise promotion programmes should incorporate and promote lifestyle physical activity.

Quality of Life and Physical Activity: Their Relationship with Physical and Psychological Well-Being

“…The linear relationship between physical activity and well-being is altered when physical self-concept is considered as a mediating variable, which leads us to conclude that a greater degree of physical activity results in a beter general physical self-concept, which in turn is directly associated with higher levels of well-being. Hence, we can conclude that physical-sporting activity generates a beter physical self-concept, which in turn is directly associated with well-being, as postulated by Thǿrgersen-Ntoumani et al [55].…”

Correlation of sports activity with stress and satisfaction with life among adult Slovenians

“…Nadalje so študije pokazale, da je pogostost TD povezana tudi z večjim zadovoljstvom z življenjem (35,36,17). Raziskovalci navajajo, da so srečnejši tisti, ki so telesno dejavnejši (36)(37)(38). Poleg tega imajo dejavnejši višjo samozavest in boljšo samopodobo ter so bolj optimistični in boljšega razpoloženja (39,40,3); višje ocenjujejo kakovost svojega življenja (41).…”

“…Pokazala se je povezanost med stopnjo ŠD in zadovoljstvom z življenjem, in sicer so s svojim življenjem najbolj zadovoljni tisti, ki so najbolj športno dejavni, kar sovpada z našimi pričakovanji. Ugotovitev potrjujejo tudi izsledki raziskav, ki so jih opravili Thogersen-Ntoumani, Fox in Ntoumanis (37). Rezultati nakazujejo, da se je za višje vrednotenje zadovoljstva z življenjem treba vsaj enkrat tedensko ukvarjati s športom.…”

Psychosocial health on workers who practice Pilates: a descriptive-comparative study

“…En la literatura científica las relaciones entre el ejercicio y el bienestar psicológico han sido bidireccionales: desde aquellas que establecen relaciones entre la influencia del autoconcepto físico sobre la realización de actividades físi-cas (Guérin, Marsh, & Famose, 2004), a las que analizan la influencia de la actividad física sobre variables psicosociales como el autoconcepto o la autoestima (Moreno, Cervelló, & Moreno, 2008). También existen investigaciones, dentro del ámbito laboral, que han mostrado los efectos positivos del ejercicio físico sobre el bienestar psicológico de los empleados (Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Fox, & Ntoumanis, 2005) y sobre su productividad (de Miguel et al, 2011). Se entiende por bienestar psicológico un constructo que expresa el sentir positivo y el pensar constructivo del ser humano acerca de sí mismo, que se define por su naturaleza subjetiva vivencial y que se relaciona estrechamente con aspectos particulares del funcionamiento físico, psíquico y social (Victoria & González, 2000).…”