title: An effective exercise-based intervention for improving mental health and quality of life measures: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Atlantis
authors.forename: Chin-Moi
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Adrienne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: Maria Fiatarone
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: 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