Weights and Wellness: Observing the impacts of physical exercise on psychological well-being

Abstract

Social isolation due to COVID-19 has led to an increase of symptoms of anxiety and depression among young adults (Fernandez-Rio et al., 2021). Situations causing restricted access to mental health resources can make it difficult to find effective treatments, decreasing psychological well-being. Previous research provided evidence with a correlation between increased physical exercise and fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety (Battaglia et al., 2015). A naturalistic observational study was conducted to investigate the relationship between physical exercise and psychological well-being, hypothesizing that those who engage in physical exercise will have a higher frequency of smiles with teeth compared to those who do not. Participants (N = 60) at the University of Maryland were observed in two locations: Half of the participants were observed at the Eppley Recreation Center while the rest were observed at Adele H. Stamp Student Union. Contrary to predictions, those who did not engage in physical exercise showed no significant difference in frequency of smiles than those who did, showing no support between the hypothesized relationship of physical exercise and psychological well-being. However, it was noted that during observation, the group that did not engage in physical exercise also engaged in more social behaviors and tended to have a higher frequency of smiles compared to those who were alone, implying a potential relationship social interaction and psychological well-being. Further exploration in moderating confounding variables can allow researchers to understand the influence of physical exercise when implementing treatments for those with mental illness.