title: An exploratory study of associations of physical activity with mental health and work engagement.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have found moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) to be associated with a decreased risk of mental disorders. Although the focus in the field of psychology has shifted towards human strengths and optimal functioning, studies examining associations between MVPA and mental health in general (MH) and between MVPA and well-being are scarce. An indicator of work-related well-being is work engagement (WE). The aim of this study was to explore the associations between MVPA and MH, and between MVPA and WE.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, a total of 257 employees from two research institutes, self-reported their MVPA, MH and level of WE. In addition, a randomly chosen subgroup (n=100) wore an Actigraph accelerometer for a 1-week period to measure their MVPA objectively. Crude and adjusted associations between MVPA and both WE and MH were analyzed using linear regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant association between self-reported MVPA and mental health, resulting from both the crude (b=0.058, 95% CI -0.118 - 0.235) and adjusted analyses (b=0.026; 95% CI -0.158- 0.210), nor between objectively measured MVPA and mental health for both crude and adjusted analyses (b=-0.144; 95% CI -1.315- 1.027; b=-0.199; 95% CI 1.417- 1.018 respectively). There was also no significant association between self-reported MVPA and work engagement (crude: b=0.005; 95% CI -0.005-0.016, adjusted: b= 0.002; 95% CI -0.010- 0.013), nor between objectively measured MVPA and work engagement (crude: b= 0.012; 95% CI -0.084- 0.060, adjusted: b=0.007; 95% CI -0.083-0.069).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the beneficial effects of MVPA on the negative side of MH (i.e. mental disorders) have been established in previous studies, this study found no evidence for the beneficial effects of MVPA on positive side of MH (i.e. well-being). The possible difference in how the physical activity-mental health relationship works for negative and positive sides of MH should be considered in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public and Occupational Health - EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, van der Boechorststraat 7, Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jantien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Berkel
authors.forename: Karin I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Proper
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.forename: Cécile R L
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Boot
authors.forename: Paulien M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bongers
authors.forename: Allard J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van der Beek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012307:Risk Factors; D058992:Social Participation