Exam 13: Physical Activity and Mental Health

If you were going to recommend types of exercise to help a friend feel good in terms of affect based on the evidence, what would you suggest?

In general, research has reported a ________ relationship between time spent sedentary and depression.

According to the meta-analytic reviews on exercise and depression covered in the textbook, the effect size for exercise versus no treatment control conditions has tended to be ________.

Research has examined the association between physical activity and all cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Based on one review, physically active individuals have demonstrated at least a ________ lower risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease compared to low active individuals.

Which specific type of sedentary behaviour has been most commonly linked with mental health problems?

In their systematic review of longitudinal studies examining exercise and depression, Mammen and Faulkner (2013) found that the majority of studies demonstrated a significant, ________ relationship between baseline physical activity and depression.

Which exercise and mental health mechanism is best explained by molecular receptor site occupancy?

In the absence of a single definitive dosage for mental health, standard adult physical activity guidelines of accumulating 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week should probably apply equally to mental health promotion.

This chapter provides an overview of evidence in terms of four main functions of physical activity for impacting mental health. Identify each of these functions and describe some of the key areas of focus within each with reference to at least two specific studies.

Which of the following is not a source of self-efficacy?

According to Canadian and international data, approximately how many individuals are experiencing a mental health problem or illness at any one time?

Exercise is not as effective as other more traditional treatments for depression.

Evidence suggests that being physically active may prevent mental health problems like depression. However, there may be other factors that explain this relationship that remain unaccounted for.

At this point in time, what can we safely conclude about the value of exercise in preventing depression?

Physical activity may increase levels of neurotrophins like brain derived neurotrophic factor and this could be a mechanism that explains benefits to cognitive functioning. Increases in BDNF appear to be exercise intensity dependent. Given that mental health benefits are also reported at a low intensity of exercise suggests that this mechanism is not essential for mental health benefits but may be operating for some people.

Physical activity should have a greater effect on physical self components compared to other domains like social or global self-esteem.

Researchers in sport and exercise psychology such as Ken Fox have focused attention on the physical self, which includes the following dimensions?

A meta-analysis (Spence et al., 2005) examined the relationship between exercise and self-esteem. The analysis found that

Which of the following biochemicals has been termed the "brain's own morphine?"

Which neurobiological mechanism is strongly linked to the cognitive benefits that might be accrued through exercise?