An effective exercise-based intervention for improving mental health and quality of life measures: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the effectiveness of 24-week aerobic and weight-training exercise plus behavior modification for mental health and quality of life (QOL) outcomes.


METHODS
Mental health and QOL data was collected using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales and SF-36 Health Status Survey, respectively. Employees from a single work-site were randomized into either treatment or wait-list control groups.


RESULTS
Mental Health (P = 0.005), Vitality (P < 0.001), General Health (P = 0.009), Bodily Pain (P = 0.005), Physical Functioning (P = 0.004), Depression (P = 0.048), and Stress (P = 0.036) scales significantly improved for the treatment group compared to wait-list controls after 24 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
Multimodal exercise is as effective as other single-modality exercise treatments for depressive symptoms and, in contrast to other studies, does improve stress symptoms and QOL outcomes.
Atlantis
Evan
E
School of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Cumberland Campus, Sydney, NSW 1825, Australia. E.Atlantis@fhs.usyd.edu.au
Chow
Chin-Moi
CM
Kirby
Adrienne
A
Singh
Maria Fiatarone
MF
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome