[ad_1]
The recommendations are clear: physical activity is good for mental health. But it also depends on its diversity. This is what a new study by researchers at the University of Basel shows, indicating one of the reasons why well-being suffers during the pandemic.
A walk in the morning, a jog in the evening or even a simple outing to do the grocery shopping: activity helps the psyche. Many are trying to stay active during the pandemic despite a mandatory home office and limited leisure activities. Others find that they move much less than before the pandemic because previous daily activities are prohibited due to measures taken against the spread of Covid-19.
Against this background, a study led by Professor Andrew Gloster of the University of Basel provides an indication of the impact that restricted movements could have. The results were published in the journal BMC Psychiatry.
This exercise not only promotes physical health but also mental health is known from various studies. However, these mainly focused on the influence of deliberate exercise programs. “In contrast, little was known about whether naturally chosen daily movement patterns also influence mental health,” says Gloster.
To study this, he and researchers at the University Psychiatric Clinics in Basel collected GPS data from 106 mentally ill patients who agreed to participate. To this end, study participants received additional smartphones that they took with them for a week. This allowed researchers to track their movements without interfering with the patients’ daily routine. The research team then compared the movement data with surveys of participants’ well-being and symptoms of their mental illness.
The results showed that the more people moved and the more varied their movements, the greater their sense of well-being. However, no influence on the symptoms could be determined. “Our results suggest that activity alone is not enough to reduce symptoms of mental disorders, but may at least improve subjective well-being,” says Gloster.
“Although the data was collected before the pandemic, the results are also relevant in light of the limitations during the coronavirus crisis,” he adds. Since many social and recreational activities were interrupted during this time, the physical activity habits of many people also became more monotonous. Various studies carried out by research groups at the University of Basel have been able to show that the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the psyche of the population. Results from the Gloster-led team suggest that restricted movement patterns may play a role in this regard as well.
Source of the story:
Material provided by University of Basel. Note: Content can be changed for style and length.
Source link
