Physical Activity for Promoting Mental Health
A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 1270
Special Issue Editors
Interests: physical activity and health; mental health; elderly population; fall risk
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: physical activity and health; mental health; cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular rehabilitation; elderly population; fall risk
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The relationship between physical activity and mental health is being increasingly recognized for its critical role in the prevention and adjunctive treatment of mental health conditions. Engaging in regular physical activity offers substantial psychological benefits, including reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress as well as enhanced cognitive function and mood. Given the growing global prevalence of mental health disorders, incorporating physical activity into mental health strategies presents a valuable, accessible, and cost-effective approach to improving overall well-being. This Special Issue explores the importance of physical activity across diverse populations and settings, underscoring its potential to enhance mental health outcomes and contribute to more holistic mental health care solutions.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue of Healthcare on “Physical Activity for Promoting Mental Health”. This collection addresses the need for evidence-based approaches that incorporate physical activity into mental health care, recognizing physical activity as an effective tool for both mental health promotion and the management of psychological conditions. Our aim is to gather research that not only examines the direct benefits of physical activity on mental health but that also investigates innovative methods to implement these interventions within healthcare systems, public health strategies, and community programs.
Aligning with Healthcare’s mission to advance interdisciplinary health knowledge and support diverse healthcare practices, this Special Issue welcomes contributions from a range of fields, including psychology, exercise science, public health, and healthcare policy. By focusing on accessible and practical interventions, this collection will further the journal’s commitment to disseminating applicable research across healthcare contexts, enhancing the quality of care and improving patient outcomes.
This Special Issue aims to provide healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers with valuable insights into the role of physical activity in mental health, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and promoting holistic approaches to mental health care.
In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and reviews. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Intervention Efficacy: Studies assessing the effectiveness of various types of physical activity interventions (e.g., aerobic exercise, resistance training, yoga, and dance) on mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, stress, and cognitive function across diverse populations.
- Implementation in Clinical Practice: Research on the integration of physical activity programs within clinical mental health care settings, examining the barriers, facilitators, and best practices for healthcare professionals to encourage physical activity among patients.
- Population-Specific Studies: Studies focusing on the mental health benefits of physical activity within specific populations, such as adolescents, older adults, individuals with chronic mental health conditions, and marginalized communities, with an emphasis on tailored approaches to meet each group’s unique needs.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Priscila Marconcin
Dr. Vanessa Santos
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- physical activity
- mental health
- anxiety and depression
- health promotion
- psychological well-being
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