This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Mccormick, B. P. Articles by Maksimovich, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mccormick, B. P. Articles by Maksimovich, M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Predicting Transitory Mood From Physical Activity Level Among People With Severe Mental Illness in Two Cultures

Park & Tourism Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA, bmccormi{at}indiana.edu

Georgia Frey

Indiana University, Bloomington, USA

Chien-Tsung Lee

Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA

Sanghee Chun

Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA

Jim Sibthorp

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA

Tomislav Gajic

Department of Psychiatry, Health Centre Valjevo, Valjevo, Serbia

Branka Stamatovic-Gajic

Department of Psychiatry, Health Centre Valjevo, Valjevo, Serbia

Milena Maksimovich

Department of Psychiatry, Health Centre Valjevo, Valjevo, Serbia

Background: Previous studies have indicated that physical activity (PA) is positively related to health-related quality of life and well-being among people with severe mental illness (SMI). Physical activity is broadly defined in this research as any skeletal muscle movement resulting in energy expenditure, including common daily activities such as housework and gardening, as well as walking for transportation and formal exercise. Although the physical health benefits of PA are well documented, evidence suggests that PA provides psychological benefits as well.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to identify if PA level was associated with transitory mood in the everyday lives of people with SMI across two cultures.

Methods: Subjects were drawn through mental health centres in Serbia (n = 12) and the USA (n = 11). Data were collected using both experience sampling methodology and accelerometry. Data were analyzed using hierarchical linear modelling.

Results: Subjects demonstrated low levels of PA, which did not differ significantly between groups. Hierarchical analysis indicated that PA remained significantly positively associated with mood after accounting for individual variation, and this was consistent across groups.

Conclusions: This study reinforces previous findings that people with SMI demonstrate low PA levels generally. It also supports the consideration of physical activity interventions as a regular part of psychiatric rehabilitation. It appears that increased PA may have the potential to affect both physical health and mood among people with SMI.

Key Words: physical activity • mood • experience sampling • accelerometry

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 54, No. 6, 527-538 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0020764008091423


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?