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Annals of Biological Research, 2012, 3 (1):270-274
(http://scholarsresearchlibrary.com/archive.html)

ISSN 0976-1233
CODEN (USA): ABRNBW


270
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The Effect of Exercise on Depression and Anxiety of Students

1
Sreya Yonca Bier,
2
Akbar Asghari,
3
Parvane Kharazi,
2
Nader Shaygan Asl

1
Frat niversitesi Beden Eitimi ve Spor Yksekokulu Elaz / TRKYE
2
Department of Physical Education, Ardebil branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardebil, Iran
3
Education Department, District 6 of Tehran, Iran
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ABSTRACT

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recognizes exercise as a valid treatment for anxiety
and depression. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of two types of exercise
programs on depression and anxiety in male and female students. 490 students who had
registered in the course of Physical Education 2 filled out the two questionnaires of the study.
Then, based on the scores, 120 students with depression scores from 14 to 40 were selected as
the subjects of the study. 54 boys and girls participated in a 12 week physical fitness program
with a frequency of 3 sessions per week and 60 minutes per session. The rest of the students
participated in a similar protocol, but 90 minutes per session in handball classes. Based on the
results, there was a significant difference between the effects of the two programs on depression
and anxiety. No significant difference was observed between girls and boys in the level of
depression, but a significant difference was observed between the two genders in the level of
anxiety.

Keywords: depression, anxiety, physical activity, male and female students, handball, physical
fitness.
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INTRODUCTION

Psychological problems such as depression and anxiety affect the life of millions of people in the
world. These problems are associated with increased fatality and health service expenses [8].

Depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or
pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep and/or appetite, low energy, and
poor concentration [3].

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Anxiety is characterized as a strongly negative emotion with a component of fear, and such fear
has cognitive, neurobiological, and behavioral manifestations. It often is present concurrently
with depression [4].Anxiety, an unpleasant mood characterized by thoughts of worry, is an
adaptive response to perceived threats that can develop into a maladaptive anxiety disorder if it
becomes severe and chronic [2].

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recognizes exercise as a valid treatment for anxiety
and depression. Preliminary evidence also suggests that regular exercise can be considered as a
treatment for some anxiety disorders, for individuals suffering from body image disturbance, and
for the reduction of problem behavior of developmentally disabled persons.

Epistemological research among men and women suggests that physical activity may be
associated with reduced symptoms of depression (Ross and Hayes, 1988), clinical depression
(Weyerer, 1992), symptoms of anxiety (Ross and Hayes, 1988), and improvements in positive
affect and general well-being (Stephens, 1988). Generally, people who are inactive are more
prone to depression and anxiety than active people.

Wyshak (2001) studied the association between womens athletic activity in the college and
precollege years and physician-diagnosed depression in postcollege years. The findings
supported the health benefits of physical activity for depression [9].

Norris et al. (1992) studied the effect of physical activity on psychological well-being in an
adolescent population. The results revealed that subjects undergoing high intensity exercise had
significantly less stress than subjects in the other groups. Further, the relationship between stress
and anxiety/depression/hostility for the high intensity group considerably weakened at the end of
the training period [6].

Lantz et al. (2007) studied the relationship between social physique anxiety and exercise
behavior and examined the moderating effects of gender, age and depression. The results
suggested that social physique anxiety was negatively related to exercise behavior and that both
the magnitude and form of this relationship were moderated by gender, age and depression [5].

Cox and Liu (1996) carried out a research to find whether elite Chinese athletes that participate
in track and field, fencing, and gymnastics exhibit differential psychological profiles and whether
elite Chinese athletes participating in track and field exhibit superior psychological skill profiles
when compared with collegiate level Chinese track and field athletes. The results showed that
elite Chinese track and field athletes (regardless of gender) exhibited higher anxiety control and
confidence scores than collegiate level athletes [1].

Peluso and Andrade (2005) studied the relationship between physical activity and mental health
and addressed the association between exercise and mood. The results suggested the positive
effect of regular exercise on mental health [7].




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MATERIALS AND METHODS

The purpose of this study was to study the effect of two types of exercise programs on
depression and anxiety in male and female students. The research is quasi-experimental. The
data were collected through two questionnaires Beck Depression Inventory and Spielberger
State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire.

Inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The population of the research consisted of all
the male and female students of Islamic Azad University.

Materials
Beck Depression Inventory and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire were used for data
collection. Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-item self-report instrument intended to assess the
existence and severity of symptoms of depression. Anxiety was assessed using self-administered
Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire which is an instrument used to measure trait
(chronic) anxiety, a general propensity to be anxious, and state anxiety(temporary), a temporary
state varying in intensity.

The questionnaires were distributed among the students and after being filled out, 120 students
with depression scores from 14 to 40 were selected as the subjects of the study. 54 boys and girls
participated in a 12 week physical fitness program with a frequency of 3 sessions per week and
60 minutes per session. The rest of the students participated in a similar protocol, but 90 minutes
per session in handball classes. At the end of the training programs, the questionnaires were
again distributed among the subjects. Correlated and independent t-test was applied for data
analysis.

RESULTS

1. presents the mean scores of male and female students in depression and anxiety.

Table 1 The difference between the effect of exercises on depression and anxiety of male and female students

Groups Total Mean Stan. Dev. T Degree of Freedom P-Value
Male Handball Group
Pre-Test Anxiety Score 27 56.46 34.3 4.56 26 0.003
Post-Test Anxiety Score 27 44.48 29.4
Female Handball Group Pre-Test Anxiety Score 27 46.68 7.43 4.70 26 0.0046
Post-Test Anxiety Score 27 41.32 7.35
Male Physical Fitness Group Pre-Test Depression Score 27 20.31 4.54 4.05 26 0.0032
Post-Test Depression Score 27 18.32 3.45
Female Physical Fitness Group Pre-Test Depression Score 27 28.31 7. 32 4.67 26 0.0039
Post-Test Depression Score 27 22.45 8.1

Table 2 The difference the effect of physical fitness exercises on the level of depression of male and female students

Depression Score Total Mean Stan. Dev. T Degree of Freedom P-Value
Female Students 27 24.44 7.67
1.13 53 0.35
Male Students 27 20.46 4.37

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According to table 1, there is a positive correlation between handball exercises and depression in
male and female students. Further, a positive correlation can be observed between physical
fitness exercises and anxiety in male and female students. Thus, it can be concluded that physical
fitness and handball exercises have a positive effect on the level of anxiety and depression of
male and female students.

According to table 2, no significant difference can be observed between the mean depression
scores of male and female students.

Table 3 The difference between the effect of handball exercises on the level of anxiety of male and female students

Anxiety Score Total Mean Stan. Dev. T Degree of Freedom P-Value
Female Students 27 51.33 5.17
4.11 53 0.0057
Male Students 27 44.97 6.34

Based on table 3, there is a significant difference between the effect of handball exercises on the
level of anxiety of male and female students.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Based on the results a significant relationship was observed between physical fitness and
handball exercises and depression and anxiety of male and female students. This finding is
consistent with the results of Wyshak (2001) and Norris et al. (1992) who reported that regular
exercise can improve depression and anxiety.

Healthy recreational programs, increasing self-efficacy beliefs, valuing the youth and their
abilities, planning for the future, believing in a brighter future, and filling the pastime are
positive factors that can protect students against anxiety and depression. Thus, experts and
practitionersmusttake necessary measures in this regard in order to solve the psychological
problems of the youths.

So for achieving physical and mental health among all the people of the society, we should
develop plans, provide necessary facilities, and encourage people to participate in regular
exercise. Thus, it is suggested that people make great use of physical exercises as a proper means
for decreasing anxiety and depression.

REFERENCES

[1]. Cox, R., Liu, Z., Qiu, Y., 1996. International Journal of Sport Psychology,27(2): 123-132.
[2]. Herring, M.P., OConnor, P.J., Dishman, R.K., 2010. Archives of Internal Medicine, 170(4):
321-331
[3]. Knapen, J., Vancampfort, D., Schoubs, B., Probst, M., et al., 2009. The Open
Complementary Medicine Journal, 1: 78-83.
[4]. Jiang, W., Kuchibhatla, M., Cuffe, M.S., et al., 2004. Circulation, 110:34523456.
[5]. Lantz, C.D., Hardy, C.J., Ainsworth, B.E., 2007. Journal of Sport Behavior, Vol. 20, Issue 1.
[6]. Norris, R.R., Douglas,C., Cochran, R., 1999. Journal of Psychosomatic Research,36(10): 55-
650.
[7]. Peluso, M.A., Andrade, L.H., 2005. Clinics (Sao Paulo), 60(1): 61-70.
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[8]. Taylor, S., 2005. Anxiety sensitivity: theory, research, and treatment of the fear of anxiety.
London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 61-81.
[9]. Wyshak,G., 2001. J Womens Health Gend Based Med, 10(4): 363-70.