The Effects of Physical Exercise on Mental Health: From Cognitive Improvements to Risk of Addiction

Pasquale Caponnetto, Mirko Casu, Miriam Amato, Dario Cocuzza, Valeria Galofaro, Alessandra La Morella, Sara Paladino, Kamil Pulino, Nicoletta Raia, Flavia Recupero, Cristian Resina, Samuele Russo, Laura Maria Terranova, Jennifer Tiralongo and Maria Chiara Vella
Additional contact information
Pasquale Caponnetto: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Mirko Casu: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Miriam Amato: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Dario Cocuzza: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Valeria Galofaro: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Alessandra La Morella: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Sara Paladino: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Kamil Pulino: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Nicoletta Raia: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Flavia Recupero: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Cristian Resina: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Samuele Russo: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Laura Maria Terranova: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Jennifer Tiralongo: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Maria Chiara Vella: Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-13

Abstract: (1) Background : we aimed to investigate the effects of physical activity on cognitive functions and deficits of healthy population and other needy groups. Secondly, we investigated the relation between healthy habits and psychopathological risks. Finally, we investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on exercise addiction and possible associated disorders. (2) Methods : From April 2021 to October 2021, we conducted a review aimed at identifying the effects of physical exercise on mental health, from cognitive improvements to risk of addiction; we searched for relevant studies on PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINHAL. (3) Results : For the first purpose, results indicated multiple effects such as better precision and response speed in information processing tasks on healthy populations; improvement of executive functions, cognitive flexibility and school performance in children; improvement of attention and executive functions and less hyperactivity and impulsiveness on children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); improvement of executive and global functions on adults; improvement of overall cognitive functioning on patients with schizophrenic spectrum disorder or bipolar disorder. Data also demonstrated that exercise addiction seems to be related to low levels of education, low self-esteem, eating disorders and body dysmorphisms. Eventually, it was found that people with lower traits and intolerance of uncertainty show a strong association between COVID-19 anxiety and compulsive exercise and eating disorder. (4) Conclusions : these findings underline on one side the beneficial effects of physical activity on cognitive function in healthy individuals in a preventive and curative key, while on the other side the importance of an adequate evaluation of psychological distress and personality characteristics associated with exercise addiction.

Keywords: physical activity; exercise addiction; sport addiction; cognitive functions; executive functions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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