Stress management; exercise

exercise

• negative mood states are linked with vulnerability to stress related with illness
• do the positive effects of exercise indirectly help with coping with stress
• it is unclear whether exercise improves the mood

possible explanations 

• by exercising people take control and increase their sense of self efficacy (control over the world 
• possible that encephalin are released during exercise and act on the brain to improve mood however there is no evidence to prove this is the case

evaluation 

• holmes (1993) exercise is linked with lower levels of stress and lower risk of hypertension but it is unclear whether depression leas to exercise rather than exercise curing depression
• jennings et al (1986) ps doing extra exercise have low bp and heart rate

evaluation of exercise and stress

• biddle (2000) confirmed that exercise lowers stress and has a positive effect on mood 
• throne et al (2000) regular exercise reduced stress in fire fighters
• mutrie (2000) confirmed regular exercise can lead to a reduction in clinical depression