title: Physical exercise and psychological well being: a critical review.
abstract: The relation between physical exercise and psychological health has increasingly come under the spotlight over recent years. While the message emanating from physiological research has extolled the general advantages of exercise in terms of physical health, the equivalent psychological literature has revealed a more complex relation. The paper outlines the research evidence, focusing on the relation between physical exercise and depression, anxiety, stress responsivity, mood state, self esteem, premenstrual syndrome, and body image. Consideration is also given to the phenomena of exercise addiction and withdrawal, and implications for exercise prescription are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Ulster at Jordanstown, School of Leisure and Tourism, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scully
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Meade
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dudgeon
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D001007:Anxiety / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003863:Depression / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D012649:Self Concept; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006113:United Kingdom