Exercise and the Mind: Exploring the Link Between Regular Physical Activity and Mental Well-Being
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63750/88xdba25Keywords:
Regular Exercise, Physical Activity, Mental Well-being, Mental Health, Exercise PsychologyAbstract
Regular physical activity nurtures not only the body but also the mind, offering a powerful tool for maintaining emotional balance and resilience. This exploration invites individuals to see exercise as an essential part of overall well-being by uncovering the ways movement supports psychological health. The research gathered insights from individuals who regularly engage in physical activity to uncover how consistent exercise influences mental well-being and reveals the connection between movement and the mind. The findings indicate that regular physical activity supports mental well-being by improving physical condition, enhancing mood, and strengthening social relationships. Enjoyment and connection experienced during shared physical activities further sustain motivation and contribute to a stronger sense of belonging. The results suggest that regular physical activity should be viewed as a holistic practice that supports mental well-being through physical health, emotional balance, and social connection. Encouraging consistent and socially engaging physical activities may help promote more sustainable mental well-being across daily life contexts.
Downloads
References
• Adams, N., Little, T. D., & Ryan, R. M. (2017). Self-determination theory. In Development of Self-determination through the Life-course (pp. 47–54). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1042-6_4
• Akram, M., Hasan, M. K., & Sołowski, G. (2025). Transformative mind-body technique for enhanced wellness, clarity, and emotional balance. EuroScience Journal of Technological Innovation, 1(1), 18–23. https://www.easrjournals.com/index.php/esjti/article/view/23
• Bernstein, E. E., & McNally, R. J. (2018). Exercise as a buffer against difficulties with emotion regulation: A pathway to emotional wellbeing. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 109, 29–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2018.07.010
• Biddle, S. J., Ciaccioni, S., Thomas, G., & Vergeer, I. (2019). Physical activity and mental health in children and adolescents: An updated review of reviews and an analysis of causality. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 42, 146–155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.08.011
• Bondarchuk, O., Balakhtar, V., Pinchuk, N., Pustovalov, I., & Pavlenok, K. (2024). Coping with stressful situations using coping strategies and their impact on mental health. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024spe034
• Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2023). Toward good practice in thematic analysis: Avoiding common problems and becoming a knowing researcher. International Journal of Transgender Health, 24(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2022.2129597
• Campbell, S., Greenwood, M., Prior, S., Shearer, T., Walkem, K., Young, S., ... & Walker, K. (2020). Purposive sampling: Complex or simple? Research case examples. Journal of Research in Nursing, 25(8), 652–661. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744987120927206
• Chan, J. S., Liu, G., Liang, D., Deng, K., Wu, J., & Yan, J. H. (2019). Therapeutic benefits of physical activity for mood: A systematic review on the effects of exercise intensity, duration, and modality. The Journal of Psychology, 153(1), 102–125. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2018.1470487
• Chang de Pinho, I., Giorelli, G., & Oliveira Toledo, D. (2024). A narrative review examining the relationship between mental health, physical activity, and nutrition. Discover Psychology, 4(1), 162. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-024-00275-7
• D’Isanto, T., Altavilla, G., Esposito, G., Raiola, G., & D’Elia, F. (2023). Physical activity and sports sciences field in Italian scientific research products and its distinct composition in biomedicine, exercise and sports sciences and pedagogy domains. Sport Sciences for Health, 19(3), 987–991. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-023-01045-z
• Firth, J., Rosenbaum, S., Stubbs, B., Gorczynski, P., Yung, A. R., & Vancampfort, D. (2016). Motivating factors and barriers towards exercise in severe mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 46(14), 2869–2881. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291716001732
• Herbert, C. (2022). Enhancing mental health, well-being and active lifestyles of university students by means of physical activity and exercise research programs. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 849093. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.849093
• Kirby, J. B., Babkes Stellino, M., Lewis, C., Humphrey, K., Gordon, K., & Lindsay, K. G. (2022). You've got a friend in me: Fostering social connection among college students through peer-led physical activity. Health Promotion Practice, 23(6), 907–911. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399211072535
• Laidlaw, R. J., McGrath, R., Adams, C., Kumar, S., & Murray, C. M. (2023). Improved mental health, social connections and sense of self: A mixed methods systematic review exploring the impact and experience of community reminiscence programs. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 4111–4132. https://doi.org/10.2147/JMDH.S438730
• Liu, X., & Liu, L. (2025). The mediating role of college students' body image and self-esteem in the impact of physical activity on life satisfaction and mental health. Acta Psychologica, 257, 105103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105103
• Mahindru, A., Patil, P., & Agrawal, V. (2023). Role of physical activity on mental health and well-being: A review. Cureus, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33475
• Malm, C., Jakobsson, J., & Isaksson, A. (2019). Physical activity and sports—Real health benefits: A review with insight into the public health of Sweden. Sports, 7(5), 127. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7050127
• Mikkelsen, K., Stojanovska, L., Polenakovic, M., Bosevski, M., & Apostolopoulos, V. (2017). Exercise and mental health. Maturitas, 106, 48–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.09.003
• Pascoe, M., Bailey, A. P., Craike, M., Carter, T., Patten, R., Stepto, N., & Parker, A. (2020). Physical activity and exercise in youth mental health promotion: A scoping review. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), e000677. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000677
• Pilarska, J. (2021). Phenomenological qualitative research design. In A. Pabel, J. Pryce, & A. Anderson (Eds.), Research Paradigm Considerations for Emerging Scholars (p. 33). https://doi.org/10.21832/PABEL8274
• Posadzki, P., Pieper, D., Bajpai, R., Makaruk, H., Könsgen, N., Neuhaus, A. L., & Semwal, M. (2020). Exercise/physical activity and health outcomes: An overview of Cochrane systematic reviews. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1724. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09855-3
• Ramirez, E. (2024). Influence of aerobic exercise on stress reduction in Philippines. International Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports, 2(2), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.47604/ijpers.2616
• Sampogna, G., Brugnoli, R., & Fiorillo, A. (2024). The biopsychosocial model revised for mental health. In A. Fiorillo & S. De Giorgi (Eds.), Social Determinants of Mental Health (pp. 11–17). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-70165-8_2
• Vergara, F. A., Daling, K. G., & Taja-on, E. P. (2025). Beyond jocularity: Exploring the role of community in supporting mental health and personal development among male students. Canadian Journal of Family and Youth/Le Journal Canadien de Famille et de la Jeunesse, 17(2), 198–227. https://doi.org/10.29173/cjfy30130
• Viveiros, B., Jacinto, M., Antunes, R., Matos, R., Amaro, N., Cid, L., ... & Monteiro, D. (2025). Application of the hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in the context of exercise: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1512270. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1512270
• Zavalishina, S. Y., Karpov, V. Y., Rysakova, O. G., Rodionova, I. A., Pryanikova, N. G., & Shulgin, A. M. (2021). Physiological reaction of the body of students to regular physical activity. Journal of Biochemical Technology, 12(2-2021), 44–47. https://doi.org/10.51847/ERJ8YmdKPC
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Beverly Jean V. Exclamado, Shenna Dawn S. Bana-ag, Roshane Joy Y. Gallamaso, Kylle Donnell D. Berbosidad, Gilmar B. Guevarra, Renato L. Co Jr., Fremativo A. Vergara, Dr. Evan P. Taja-on (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright & Licensing Policy:
- Open Access Policy: This journal follows a fully Open Access model, which means all published research articles are freely available to readers without any subscription or access fees. Anyone can read, download, copy, distribute, print, and cite the published work without restrictions, as long as they comply with the journal’s licensing terms.
- Copyright & License:
- All articles published in this journal are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
- This license allows unrestricted reuse and distribution, provided that proper credit is given to the original author and source.
- Authors retain full copyright ownership of their work while granting the journal the right to publish it for the first time under this license.
- Author Responsibilities:
- Authors must agree to the journal’s licensing terms before publication.
- Submitted manuscripts must be original and not published or under consideration elsewhere during the review process.
- Any reuse of published content by third parties must comply with the CC BY 4.0 license, ensuring no additional restrictions are imposed on reuse.
- Publication Fees (free to publish):
- This journal (free to publish) does not charge any fees for access to published research, supporting the principle of free and open scientific knowledge for all.
