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WorkOnThesisInstead t1_iwl1g1j wrote

Poignant parts indicate that it ain't the exercise:

Participants of a web-based physical activity intervention saw improvements in their depression, anxiety, and stress levels ... these mental health benefits seem to have occurred without notable improvements in physical activity.

It seems that people can experience positive psychological outcomes with physical activity interventions when they believe they have become more active, even if they have not actually increased their activity.

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Fromnowhere2nowhere t1_iwlbbcp wrote

This wouldn’t surprise me. One way to treat depression and anxiety is to engage in behavioural activation—taking part in activities that once brought you joy or fulfillment, despite the fact that you don’t really feel like it at the moment. Doing so can bring a sense of satisfaction and self-efficacy afterwards.

If these folks believe they’ve become more physically active, perhaps they feel the self-efficacy etc. that comes along with that. Just a thought—I’ll read the article more carefully later to see what the authors might say about it in their discussion section.

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Baud_Olofsson t1_iwlcp6j wrote

The big thing that mars basically every single "exercise helps [mental health issue]" study posted on here is that they compare an intervention group getting personal attention (in this case, a "personally tailored physical activity intervention") and taking part in an activity, any activity, with a control group getting nothing (no personalized anything, no activities whatsoever). They never include a placebo-equivalent control group.

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barantana t1_iwmgqc5 wrote

"We can cure your depression!"
"I'm in!"
"You have to excercise."
"Ah bugger off I feel better already."

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