Effect of Physical Activity Interventions for Improving Depression, Anxiety and Distress

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2025 | Viewed by 457

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Health and Well-Being, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
Interests: mood; emotion; depression; self-regulation; interventions; effectiveness
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The relationship between physical activity and mental health has long been studied, with research revealing that regular exercise can significantly improve depression, anxiety, and mood. Historically, interventions have evolved from anecdotal evidence to, more recently, rigorous scientific research emphasizing their therapeutic potential. Physical activity varies from competitive sport to physical activity. Here, we do not provide a definition of physical activity intervention, as this could be the focus of a paper in itself, but instead, we argue the need for an inclusive approach—one that includes self-regulation.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore the impact of physical activity interventions on mental health, specifically targeting depression, anxiety, and mood improvement. It seeks to gather diverse research findings, practical applications, and theoretical advancements to provide comprehensive understanding of how exercise can serve as a therapeutic tool for mental well-being.

Thus, this Special Issue will highlight cutting-edge research, emphasizing multi- and interdisciplinary approaches to physical activity interventions for mental health. This includes collaborative studies, integrating fields such as psychology, neuroscience, kinesiology, and digital health. Innovative projects may explore the synergistic effects of combining exercise with cognitive behavioral therapy, technological advancements in monitoring mental health through wearable devices, and the role of social and environmental factors in enhancing the efficacy of physical activity on depression, anxiety, and mood.

This Special Issue will feature a diverse range of contributions, including theory papers providing in-depth analyses and papers developing theoretical frameworks that explain the mechanisms through which physical activity affects mental health. Case studies that include detailed examinations of individual or group experiences with physical activity interventions, providing practical insights and real-world applications, will also be included. A range of different research methods will be selected to address the utility of the intervention used, including ethnography—qualitative research exploring the cultural and social contexts influencing the adoption and effectiveness of physical activity for mental health. We encourage papers that test theory-led hypothesis interventions. Additionally, we encourage exploratory studies such as investigative research aimed at both uncovering new insights and generating hypotheses about the relationships between physical activity and mental health.

Prof. Dr. Andrew M. Lane
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 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. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 1800 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 interventions
  • mental health
  • depression and anxiety
  • mood improvement
  • therapeutic exercise
  • interdisciplinary research
  • behavioral health
  • cognitive behavioral therapy
  • wearable technology
  • qualitative and quantitative research

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This special issue is now open for submission.
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