Relationship Between Exercise And Stress example essay topic

Abstract Objective: To determine the impact of exercise upon the ability to handle stress. The therapeutic benefits of exercise range broadly, from the general health benefits such as, reduction in low-density lipoproteins and an increase in high-density proteins, improvement in glucose metabolism, and increased strength to the non-physiological. Since the 1970's the emphasis on fitness has increased. More and more people are partaking in the regular aerobic exercise. Studies show that exercise not only improves physical health but there are now considerable amounts of research both experimental and correlational, which indicates significant psychological benefits of regular exercise (Diego, Field, Sanders, 2001).

The benefits range from elevated mood, reduced anxiety and mild depression to enhanced self-concept and self esteem (Tiggemann, 2000). The present study focuses on the impact of regular exercise upon the ability to handle stress, in a college age based sample. The sample consists of college students' aged 17-25, both male and female. The sample is to further broaden the spectrum of participants in accordance to previous research done on adults. The study will contain 30-40 participants of both genders who will be administered a series of questionnaires. The first is about their exercise habits, including gender, when, where, and how long they exercise if any.

The second will be about their perceived level of stress at the present in accordance to a series of related questions. The questionnaires will be used in comparison to the results of two stimulus tests, in which the participants will be placed in both high and low stress situations randomly and at different periods. The results will then be correlated to see if there is a relationship between exercise and stress. The Effects of Exercise Upon the Ability to Handle Stress The study's focus is to expand upon a study that has not had much research done on the study's particular population.

The study is conducted upon college-aged students ranging in spectrum from 17-25. Many of the other studies of relevant nature are based upon a broader spectrum of the population. The purpose of this the population is based upon a demographic both accessible to the researchers and, that was failed to be recognized in many of the other studies conducted on similar issues. The basis of the study is to see or find a relationship upon the way the participant deals with stress and stressful situations in accordance with their exercise habits.

There is much literature that supports the benefits of exercise. Much of this explains the physiological reasons for the reduction of stress due to exercise. According to one study during stressful situations the neurotransmitters are activated and hormones are released. This is the body's response to stress known as the flight or fight situation, after which many of the byproducts (products of stress that cause to get sick) continue to circulate in the body. This study found that regular exercise was useful in removing the byproducts, allowing the body to better respond to stressful situations (Amir, Amit, Brown, 1980). Other studies found similar findings.

In one piece of literature the findings of stress in college students corresponded with illness, feelings of loneliness and nervousness, as well as sleeplessness. The study continued to state that with moderate exercise perceived feelings of helplessness were dealt with better by the students (Ross, 1999). Most of the literatures of similar studies were characterized by positive findings in the psychological and physiological aspects of exercise. The present study was designed to test whether there truly are positive benefits of exercise upon psychological well-being. In order to test this hypothesis a small community sample of college students will be taken and the responses to various questionnaires and tests will be used as measurements to find a relationship between the two aspects.

Methods Participants Participants will be 30-40 college students ages 17-25 (15/20 male, 15/20 female) at a large Texas university. Students were recruited randomly. On average they will be form middle to upper socioeconomic status with various ethnic backgrounds. Materials Before testing participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire concerning their exercise habits. After testing they were asked to answer a question about the test and another questionnaire about their current perceived level of stress. The test stimulus of high and low stress consisted of a Curious George foam puzzle (low stress) and, a heart puzzle (high stress).

Enforcements such as, "Boys are better than girls" were given to both male and female participants. Design The design of the study will consist of a preexisting independent variable, which is exercise habits (regular exercisers vs. non exercisers) and a manipulated independent variable, which is high stress stimulus and low stress stimulus. The Dependant variable is the reaction to the stress stimulus. The design of the study is created to see whether or not there will be a relationship between exercise and stress.

Procedure The participants are selected on a random basis in which an even number of males and females are chosen to participate. The sample will be chosen upon the following criteria, must be a college student ages 17-25. The participants will then be given a questionnaire about their exercise habits. The questionnaire will be based on the following questions, gender, when, where, how, and how long and often they exercise. After the participants fill out the questionnaire the participants are then randomly either given the high or low stress stimulus.

After a period of five minutes to complete the task the participants are then asked to fill out the manipulation check of how stressful the situation was a scale of 1-7. A posttest of stress level evaluation questionnaire is then given in order to determine the participants perceived level of stress. A week later the other stress stimulus is given to the participant. Once again the manipulation check is given. After the data is collected the results are then correlated to see if there is an interaction between exercise and stress.

Bibliography

Amir, S., Amit, Z., Brown, Z.W. (1980) The role of endorphins in stress: evidence and speculations.
Neuroscience Bio behavior Review. 42,289-296. Diego, M., Field, T., Sanders, C.G. (2001).
Exercise is positively related to adolescents' relationships and academics. Adolescence. 36,141. Lawlor, D., (20010.
The effectiveness of exercise as an intervention in the management of depression: systematic review and meta regression analysis of randomized controlled trails. British Medical Journal. 322,763. Ross, S.E., (1999) Sources of stress among college students.
College Student Journal. Alabama: Project Innovation. 1999.
Tiggemann, M. (2000).