Khaberni - The benefits of exercise are not just limited to strengthening muscles and improving heart health, but may also extend to how we handle daily stress.
A recent study published in Acta Psychologica suggested that individuals with higher cardio-respiratory fitness are less prone to anxiety and anger, and better able to maintain their composure in stressful situations, according to a report on the scientific site "MedicalXpress".
The researchers from the Federal University in Goiás, Brazil, conducted an experiment on 40 healthy young adults, divided into two groups, one with above-average physical fitness, while the other was below average.
The volunteers participated in two separate sessions, during which they viewed neutral images at one time, and disturbing images at another, including scenes of injuries and threatening situations, aiming to provoke stress and negative emotions.
All participants felt an increase in stress after viewing the disturbing images, but the difference appeared in the intensity of the response. The results showed that those with higher fitness maintained lower levels of anxiety and anger compared to the group with lower fitness.
According to the study, individuals in the lower fitness group were significantly more likely to move from a medium to high anxiety level after exposure to stressful scenes. They also recorded a higher increase in anger feelings, with less ability to control it.
In contrast, individuals with more fitness seemed to have a higher degree of "emotional resilience", which is the ability to absorb psychological shock and deal with it without impulsiveness or excessive stress.
Why does fitness affect emotions?
The researchers suggest that regular exercise commitment trains not only the body but also the mind. The discipline required to maintain a fitness program may contribute to building better self-control, endurance under stress, and regulation of emotions.
Furthermore, regular exercises are linked to improved heart and circulatory functions, which may reflect on more stable physiological responses to stress.
Despite the eye-catching results, the researchers noted that the study included a limited number of participants, and fitness levels were assessed through questionnaires and not by precise direct measurements. Biological stress indicators like the cortisol hormone were not measured.
Therefore, the researchers emphasize the need for broader studies to confirm the findings and understand whether they apply to different age and health groups. Nevertheless, the study adds new evidence to the increasingly popular idea that movement is not only vital for physical health but may also serve as a psychological shield that helps us stay calm when stress levels rise.
