Do workplace physical activity interventions improve mental health outcomes?
BACKGROUND
Mental health is an important issue in the working population. Interventions to improve mental health have included physical activity.


OBJECTIVE
To review evidence for the effectiveness of workplace physical activity interventions on mental health outcomes.


METHODS
A literature search was conducted for studies published between 1990 and August 2013. Inclusion criteria were physical activity trials, working populations and mental health outcomes. Study quality was assessed using the Jadad scale.


RESULTS
Of 3684 unique articles identified, 17 met all selection criteria, including 13 randomized controlled trials, 2 comparison trials and 2 controlled trials. Studies were grouped into two key intervention areas: physical activity and yoga exercise. Of eight high-quality trials, two provided strong evidence for a reduction in anxiety, one reported moderate evidence for an improvement in depression symptoms and one provided limited evidence on relieving stress. The remaining trials did not provide evidence on improved mental well-being.


CONCLUSIONS
Workplace physical activity and yoga programmes are associated with a significant reduction in depressive symptoms and anxiety, respectively. Their impact on stress relief is less conclusive.
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Block MD3, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Julius Centre University of Malaya, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Chu
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Block MD3, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore, PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, Brunei Darussalam BE 1410, david_koh@nuhs.edu.sg.
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Koh
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Julius Centre University of Malaya, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Moy
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Block MD3, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charite University Medical Centre, 10098 Berlin, Germany.
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Müller-Riemenschneider
D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D008603:Mental Health; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017132:Workplace; D015013:Yoga
Muscle stretching exercises; occupational health; physical activity; psychological; stress.