The relationships between physical activity, health status and psychological well-being of fertility-aged women.
The purpose of this investigation was to measure the association between leisure time physical activity and health status, mental health and depression. The participants were women aged 18-45. The data were collected using questionnaires that were mailed to 1200 women. The response rate was 55%. The questionnaire contained three instruments: the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Health Questionnaire for Adults, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The results showed that 52.8% of the sample were physically inactive. Physically active women experienced better mental health (P < 0.05), less depression (P < 0.05) and they had better general health status (P < 0.005). Differences in the emotional state (GHQ score) and depression (BDI score) between active (participating in exercise 3 or 1-2 times a week) and inactive women were significant (P < 0.05). Even a low level of physical activity (1-2 times per week) was positively related to women's mental health (P < 0.05).
Department of Exercise Biology, University of Tartu, Jakobi Street 5, Tartu 51014, Estonia.
Merike
M
Kull
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires