Physical exercise and students’ mental health

Introduction Studies have shown that sport participation is connected with a more positive self-image and higher self-esteem in adolescents (Bowkers, 2006, Kirkcaldy et al., 2002), whereas sedentary behavior is associated with negative mental health characteristics (Primack et al., 2009). Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate whether physical activity influences adolescents and young people's emotions, self-esteem and generally mental health. Material Questionnaires were redacted by the research team investigating participants’ habits, emotions and health benefits concerning physical activities. Method Questionnaires were administered to 150 adolescents, aged 18–20 years old in Technological Educational Institutes, colleges and fitness centers in Patras, Southern Greece during 2015's spring. Results Eighty-seven percent of the respondents worked out in fitness centers or in natural environment. Most of them answered that exercise contributed to revitalization and euphoria feelings (63%), stress relief (78%), better self-image, and better health (49%). According to 63% of the adolescents, exercise improved their school performance and 61% of them felt that exercise affected positively mental health. Conclusions Present study's results underline physical activities’ benefits in students’ mental health, self-esteem, feelings and school performance being in line with other studies’ results [Biddle et Asare (2011), Ekeland et al. (2005), Brown et al. (2013)]. Restrictions refer mainly to small size sample.