Author(s): RATTRAY, B., SCOTT, A., MCDICKEN, K., MARTIN, K., NORTHEY, J., FOGARTY, A., TEMBY, P., FLOOD, A., Institution: UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA, Country: AUSTRALIA, Abstract-ID: 1166

INTRODUCTION:
Physical activity is considered important for mental health yet the mechanisms underlying these benefits remain unclear. Fitness reflects a summation of behaviours and heredity, and as such may offer insights into how physical activity interacts with emotional states. Coping styles and self-control have also been shown to influence emotional states and may act to mediate the potential interaction between fitness and mental health. The aim of the present study was therefore to explore the influence of physical activity behaviour and fitness on emotional states, and whether these effects were mediated by coping style and/or self-control.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional study assessed cognitive performance in 107 healthy adults (58f, age: 25±6 y, baseline V̇O2peak: 36.8±9.2 mL·kg-1·min-1, not currently on any psychoactive medications). Participants completed the Depression-Anxiety Stress scale (DASS-21) and had their coping style (Brief-COPE) and self-control (13-item Brief Self-Control Scale) profiled. An aerobic fitness assessment (VO2peak) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), using the estimate of leisure time physical activity (LTPA), were used to assess predictors of fitness and physical activity. Partial correlations were calculated between each outcome variable and VO2peak and LTPA, controlling for age and multiple comparisons. Where significant associations were found between a predictor and depression, anxiety or stress subscales of the DASS-21, mediation analysis was conducted using bootstrapping techniques. Mediation was attempted with any aggregate coping style or self-control that was independently related to a significant predictor.
RESULTS:
Higher VO2peak was associated with lower anxiety (r=-0.238, p=0.031), and not depression (p=0.191) or stress (p=0.136). Higher LTPA was associated with lower depression (r=-0.291, p=0.005) and stress (r=-0.264, p=0.013) but not anxiety (p=0.192). As potential mechanisms, a maladaptive coping style was associated with both VO2peak (r=-0.246, p=0.022) and LTPA (r=-0.290, p=0.005), the latter of which was also associated with self-control (r=-0.284, p=0.006). No other associations were significant. Higher VO2peak was associated with lower anxiety, and 39% of this effect was mediated by reductions in maladaptive coping. Maladaptive coping also mediated a portion of the improved depression (45%) and stress (39%) scores associated with higher LTPA. Self-control did not significantly mediate the impact of LTPA on depression (p=0.066) or stress scores (p=0.070).
CONCLUSION:
These findings support previous evidence that higher physical activity and fitness on positively influence emotional states. However, we provide further mechanistic explanations by demonstrating that these effects of physical activity and fitness are due, in part, to more adaptive coping.

This project has been funded by the Australian Department of Defence.