title: Exploring the effectiveness of an integrated exercise/CBT intervention for young men's mental health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of a team-based sport/psychosocial intervention (Back of the Net, BTN) with an individual exercise (IE) and a control condition for the mental health of young men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten-week randomized control trial and eight-week post-intervention follow-up. Methods.  A total of 104 sedentary males aged between 18 and 40 years were recruited and randomly assigned to the BTN, IE, or a control condition. The BTN programme integrated team sport (i.e., football) and cognitive-behavioural techniques. IE sessions included aerobic and resistance training. The control group refrained from exercise. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory - 2nd Edition (BDI-II), the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) and a short qualitative questionnaire at pre-intervention, week 5, post-intervention and at 8-week follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in both the BTN and the IE condition demonstrated a significant decrease in BDI-II scores compared to the control condition at post-intervention and at 8-week follow-up. The IE condition demonstrated significantly greater perceived social support than the BTN condition at week 5 and the control group at 8-week follow-up. Qualitative data support the main empirical findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise-based interventions were effective in reducing symptoms of depression in a non-clinical community sample of young men. The BTN programme demonstrated potential for improving the mental health of young men however larger scale community-based research is warranted to further examine the effectiveness of this type of intervention.
authors: School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University, Dublin 9, Ireland. nadine.mcgale2@mail.dcu.ie
authors: Nadine
authors: N
authors: McGale
authors: Siobhain
authors: S
authors: McArdle
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Gaffney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult