The Impact of Exercise and Physical Activity on Quality of Life

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 1588

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. ciTechCare—Hospital Cruz Vermelha, 500-048 Lisboa, Portugal
2. Faculdade de Ciências Humanas, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 1649-023 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: paediatric obesity; motivation and barriers to the practice of physical activity and exercise; health psychology; mental health; quality of life
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue titled "The Impact of Exercise and Physical Activity on Quality of Life" in Healthcare, focusing on the transformative role of physical activity in enhancing health and well-being. The aim of this Special Issue is to explore the multifaceted ways in which exercise contributes to the physical, mental, and social dimensions of quality of life. This topic aligns with the journal's scope by addressing evidence-based healthcare practices, preventive strategies, and innovative approaches that promote holistic well-being. Contributions may target diverse populations, including those managing chronic conditions, individuals recovering from illness, or vulnerable groups requiring tailored interventions. We welcome original research, systematic reviews, and case studies addressing themes such as the following: Physical activity and its role in mental health improvement (e.g., reducing anxiety, depression, or stress). Exercise interventions for chronic disease prevention and management. The impact of fitness programs on community health and social inclusion. Personalized and group-based approaches to promoting physical activity. 

Submissions that provide interdisciplinary perspectives or apply innovative methodologies are highly encouraged. We aim to advance the understanding of how movement can improve lives and inform healthcare practices worldwide.

Dr. Frontini Roberta
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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
  • chronic disease management
  • quality of life
  • healthcare interventions
  • community health

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

23 pages, 991 KB  
Article
The Role of Physical Activity Opportunities and Local Authority Engagement in Promoting Healthy Living and Increasing Life Expectancy
by Mădălina Giorgiana Mangra, Gabriel Ioan Mangra, Claudiu George Bocean, Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru, Cristina Claudia Rotea and Constantin-Cristian Văduva
Healthcare 2025, 13(17), 2110; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13172110 - 25 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1015
Abstract
Background: Physical activity is essential for public health, yet disparities in access to exercise opportunities and institutional support remain significant across European regions. Objectives: This study examines how locally available physical activity options and support from local authorities relate to exercise [...] Read more.
Background: Physical activity is essential for public health, yet disparities in access to exercise opportunities and institutional support remain significant across European regions. Objectives: This study examines how locally available physical activity options and support from local authorities relate to exercise participation, life expectancy, and healthy life years within the European Union. Methods: Using artificial neural networks and cluster analysis, the research identifies patterns across EU countries and explores associations between exercise behaviors and public health outcomes. Results: The MLP analysis showed that moderate regular physical activity had the most decisive influence on predicting healthy life years (100%), followed by regular activity (44.7%). In comparison, inactivity had a notable negative impact (40.5%). Life expectancy was most closely associated with the model’s strongest predictive pathway (weight = 2.395). Access to physical activity opportunities (100%) and the presence of supportive community providers (90.8%) were the most influential factors in encouraging active lifestyles. Conclusions: Populations with greater access and engagement in physical activity tend to enjoy longer life expectancies and more years of good health. While the study’s observational nature limits causal interpretations, the findings highlight the potential of community-level strategies and infrastructural investment to foster active lifestyles and enhance population health across varied local contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Exercise and Physical Activity on Quality of Life)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop