How many minutes of exercise will bring happiness?
Exercise has long been recognized as a way to ease symptoms of depression and anxiety, but new research suggests it can also help increase happiness.
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| Exercising just 150-300 minutes a week can increase feelings of happiness to the same extent as people who exercise more vigorously. |
Researchers at the University of Michigan investigated whether exercise boosted positive attitudes in the same way it reduced negative states of mind. The results showed that just 10 minutes of exercise a week made a significant difference in mood.
Overweight people particularly benefit from exercise, according to researchers.
The study, published in the journal Happiness Studies, analyzed data from 23 previous studies. The results showed that happiness rates were 52% higher in people who were very active, 30% higher in those who were less active, and 20% higher in those who were sedentary. However, happiness levels were also moderated by their health and social relationships.
Dr. Sarita Robinson, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, told Newsweek that it is difficult to establish a correlation between exercise and happiness.
“There are many reasons why someone might feel happy, such as having a good income, making a lot of money, having exercise equipment or being a regular member of the gym. So when we feel down, or depressed, we will exercise less and generally have a reduced need to exercise.
In addition, different forms of exercise also bring different effects. No type of exercise has been determined to bring the highest efficiency. Aerobics, gym exercises or balance exercises all have good effects. Yoga will help you relax, running will release inhibitions...
The positive effects of exercise can occur immediately after a workout or accumulate over many years.
Research also shows that just one hour of exercise per week is enough to prevent depression. Specifically, according to a study with more than 30,000 adults participating published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, those who do not exercise will increase the risk of disease by 44% compared to those who exercise. Regular exercise has prevented 12% of cases of depression.
“We know that exercise plays an important role in treating depression, but this is the first time we have measured the potential of physical activity to prevent future depression,” said Professor Samuel Harvey, Australian Institute of Mental Health, University of New South Wales.
