title: Vigorous physical activity, mental health, perceived stress, and socializing among college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine cross-sectional associations between vigorous physical activity, mental health, perceived stress, and socializing among 4-year college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national cross-sectional sample of 4-year colleges in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four 4-year colleges in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 14,804 undergraduate students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report vigorous physical activity, perceived stress (measured using the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale), mental health (measured using the SF-36), and socializing (assessed using self-report number of friends and hours spent socializing).
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression models accounting for clustering within schools were estimated to examine the association between vigorous physical activity, mental health, perceived stress, and socializing. Adjusted models included high school vigorous physical activity and sociodemographic characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students who met vigorous physical activity recommendations were less likely to report poor mental health (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: .79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .69, .90) and perceived stress (adjusted OR: .75; 95% CI: .67, .83) than students who did not meet recommendations. In addition, socializing partially mediated the relationship between vigorous physical activity, mental health, and perceived stress; however, race and sex did not moderate the relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions aiming to improve mental well-being of college students should also consider promoting physical activity. At least some of the positive benefits of physical activity may arise from social interactions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. vank0056@umn.edu
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Vankim
authors.forename: Toben F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D016017:Odds Ratio; D005082:Physical Exertion; D057566:Self Report; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012951:Socialization; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult