title: Physical Activity Mode and Mental Distress in Adulthood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nearly one fifth of American adults suffer from mental health issues, yet many treatments have side effects and stigma attached. Physical activity can be an effective treatment for mental health disorders, but most promotion efforts fail. One understudied aspect of physical activity is the specific mode, including if it engages others, and how this may relate to mental health. This study examined the potential relationship between different modes of physical activity and the frequency of mental distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 2000 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed in 2015 to determine the relationship between participation in different modes of physical activity and frequent mental distress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were obtained on physical activity and frequent mental distress from 183,341 adults (aged 18-99 years, 51.9% female, 57.4% overweight/obese, 9.5% frequent mental distress). Prevalence of mental distress for those reporting activities was contrasted against walking alone. People who participated in tennis had 46% lower odds (95% CI=0.35, 0.84) of frequent mental distress. Approaching significance, non-team play sports were associated with 18% lower odds (95% CI=0.66, 1.01) of frequent mental distress, compared with walking alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activity modes are associated with mental health outcomes above and beyond the frequency and duration of activity. Given the social and play nature of the activities, this may reflect the relational aspect, enjoyment, or a combination of both. These results suggest that adding social or affective components to physical activity may enhance engagement and retention in activity promotion efforts and their benefits on mental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine; Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: cns10@psu.edu.
authors.forename: Christopher N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sciamanna
authors.affiliation: Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Joshua M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: SDC Insights, LLC, State College, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Shawna E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Doerksen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Barrett R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine; Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kraschnewski
authors.affiliation: Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mowen
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hickerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine; Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Liza S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rovniak
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine; Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Erik B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine; Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania; Office for Scholarship in Learning and Education Research, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Chengwu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult