Associations of multiple physical activity domains with mental well-being

Abstract

Objective: Physical activity (PA) has consistent associations with mental well-being, but studies have focused primarily on leisure-time activity, and there has been little attention to the roles of other activity domains (household, occupational and transport). We examined the dose-response relationships of PA dimensions (frequency, amount and volume) with mental well-being for all four PA domains. We also assessed the interaction effects of gender, age, body weight status, and PA domains. Method: In 2003-2004, two surveys collected data on PA, socio-demographics, height and weight, perceived neighborhood attributes, barriers to PA, and physical and mental well-being from 2194 Australian adults. Generalized linear models with restricted cubic splines identified the dose-response relationships of PA domains with mental well-being; the interactive effects of PA domains, age, gender and weight status; and the confounding effects of poor mental or physical health as barriers to PA. Results: Leisure-time PA was independently linearly related to mental well-being in most demographic groups. Stronger effects were observed for vigorous-intensity leisure-time PA. Poor health as a barrier to PA explained only a small portion of the relationships of PA with mental well-being. The magnitude and direction of the effects of household, occupational and transport PA depended on age, gender, weight status and/or participation in other PA domains. Conclusions: Individual physical capacities and characteristics, and level of discretionary choice are likely determinants of the effects of PA on mental well-being. Strategies aimed at increasing PA for mental health benefits need to take these diverse and sometimes counterintuitive effects into account. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.