Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aerobic fitness and leisure physical activity as moderators of the stress-illness relation

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Exercise as a moderator of the stress-illness relation was examined by exploring leisure physical activity and aerobic fitness as potential “buffers” of the association between minor stress on physical and psychological symptoms in a sample of 135 college students. The goal was to gather information regarding the mechanisms by which exercise exhibits its buffering effects. Researchers have examined both physical activity and physical fitness in an attempt to demonstrate this effect; however, whether both of these components are necessary to achieve the protective effects against stress is unknown. This study examined engaging in leisure physical activity and having high aerobic fitness to determine if both were necessary for the stress-buffering effects or if one factor was more important than the other.

Findings suggested a buffering effect for leisure physical activity against physical symptoms and anxiety associated with minor stress. This effect was not found with depression. Additionally, there was no moderating effect for aerobic fitness on physical or psychological symptoms. Collectively, the data suggested that participation in leisure physical activity as opposed to level of aerobic fitness is important to the stress-buffering effect of exercise. Implications for exercise prescription are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Halford WK, Cuddihy S, Mortimer RH: Psychological stress and blood glucose regulation in Type I diabetic patients.Health Psychology. 1990,9:516–528.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Goetsch VL, Wiebe DJ, Veltum LG, Van Dorsten B: Stress and blood glucose in Type II diabetes mellitus.Behaviour Research and Therapy. 1990,28:531–537.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Thomason BT, Brantley PJ, Jones GN, Dyer HR, Morris JL: The relation between stress and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 1992,15:215–220.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Gruen RJ: Stress and depression: Toward the development of integrative models. In Goldberger L, Breznitz S (eds),Handbook of Stress: Theoretical and Clinical Aspects (2nd Ed.) New York: The Free Press, 1993, 550–569.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Johnson JG, Sherman MF: Daily hassles mediate the relationship between major life events and psychiatric symptomatology: Longitudinal findings from an adolescent sample.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 1997,16(4):389–404.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Pillow DR, Zautra AJ, Sandler I: Major life events and minor stressors: Identifying mediational links in the stress process.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1996,70(2):381–394.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Brantley PJ, Jones GN: Daily stress and stress-related disorders,Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 1993,15:17–25.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lazarus RS: Puzzles in the study of daily hassles.Journal of Behavioral Medicine., 1984,7:375–389.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Eckenrode J: Impact of chronic and acute stressors on daily reports of mood.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1984,46:907–918.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Adams SG, Dammers PM, Saia TL, Brantley PJ, Gaydos GR: Stress, depression, and anxiety predict average symptom severity and daily symptom fluctuation in systemic lupus erythematosus.Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 1994,17(5):459–477.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. DeLongis A, Coyne JC, Dakof G, Folkman S, Lazarus RS: Relationship of daily hassles, uplifts, and major life events to health status.Health Psychology. 1982,1:119–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Fernandez E, Sheffield J: Relative contributions of life events versus daily hassles to the frequency and intensity of headaches.Headache 1996,36(10):595–602.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Jandorf L, Deblinger E, Neale JM, Stone AA: Daily versus major life events as predictors of symptom frequency.Journal of General Psychology. 1986,113:205–218.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hobfoll SE, Vaux A: Social support: Social resources and social context. In Goldberger L, Breznitz S (eds),Handbook of Stress: Theoretical and Clinical Aspects (2nd Ed.) New York: The Free Press, 1993, 685–705.

    Google Scholar 

  15. DeLongis A, Folkman S, Lazarus RS: The impact of daily stress on health and mood: Psychological and social resources as mediators.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1988,54:486–495.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ouelette SC: Inquiries into hardiness. In Goldberger L, Breznitz S (eds),Handbook of Stress: Theoretical and Clinical Aspects (2nd Ed.) New York: The Free Press, 1993, 77–100.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Folkman S, Lazarus RS, Gruen R, DeLongis A: Appraisal, coping, health status, and psychological symptoms.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1986,50:571–579.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Brown JD, Lawton M: Stress and well-being in adolescence: The moderating role of physical exercise.Journal of Human Stress. 1986,Fall:125–131.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Brown JD: Staying fit and staying well: Physical fitness as a moderator of life stress.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1991,60:555–561.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Paffenbarger RS, Hyde RT, Wing AL: Physical activity and physical fitness as determinants of health and longevity. In Bouchards C, Shephard T, Stephens J, Sutton R, McPherson BD (eds),Exercise, Fitness, & Health, Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. 1990, 33–48.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bouchard C: Biological aspects of the active living concept. In Curtis JE, Russell SJ (eds),Physical Activity in Human Experience: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1997, 11–58.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bouchard C: Discussion: Heredity, fitness, and health, In Bouchard C, Shepherd RJ, Stephens T, Sutton R, McPherson BD (eds),Exercise, Fitness, & Health. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1990, 147–153.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Paffenbarger RS, Blair SN, Lee I, Hyde RT: Measurement of physical activity to assess health effects in free-living populations.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1993,25:60–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Claytor RP: Stress reactivity: Hemodynamic adjustments in trained and untrained humans.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1991,23(7):873–881.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Holmes DS, Roth DL: Association of aerobic fitness with pulse rate and subjective responses to psychological stress.Psychophysiology. 1985,22(5):525–529.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Cox R: Exercise training and response to stress: Insights from an animal model.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1991,23(7):853–859

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sothmann MS, Horn TS, Hart BA, Gustafson AB: Comparison of discrete cardiovascular fitness groups on plasma catecholamine and selected behavioral responses to psychological stress.Psychophysiology. 1987,24(1):47–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Carmack CL, Amaral-Melendez M, Boudreaux E, et al: Exercise as a component in the physical and psychological rehabilitation of hemodialysis patients.International Journal of Rehabilitation and Health. 1995,1(1):13–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. King AC, Taylor CB, Haskell WL: Effects of differing intersities and formats of 12 months of exercise training on psychological outcomes in older adults.Health Psychology. 1993,12(4):292–300.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sime WE: Exercise in the prevention and treatment of depression. In Morgan WP, Goldston SE (eds).Exercise and Mental Health. Washington, DC: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, 1987, 145–152.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Roth DL, Holmes DS: Influence of physical fitness in determining the impact of stressful life events on physical and psychologic health.Psychosomatic Medicine. 1985,47:164–173.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Brown JD, Siegel JM: Exercise as a buffer of life stress: A prospective study of adolescent health.Health Psychology, 1988,7:341–353.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Brantley PJ, Jones GN, Boudreaux E, Catz SL: The Weekly Stress Inventory. In Zalaquett CP, Wood RJ (eds),Evaluating Stress: A Book of Resources. Landham: Scarecrow Press, 1997, 405–420.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Rowlinson RT, Felner RD: Major life events, hassles, and adaptation in adolescence: Confounding in the conceptualization and measurement of life stress and adjustment revisited.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1988,55:432–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Dohrenwend B: Problems in defining and sampling the relevant population of stressful life events. In Dohrenwend B, Dohrenwend B (eds),Stressful Life Events: Their nature and Effects, New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1974, 275–310.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Dohrenwend B, Dodson M, Dohrenwend B, Shrout P: Symptoms, hassles, social support, and life events: Problems of confounding measures.Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1984,93:222–239.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kanner AD, Coyne JC, Schaefer C, Lazarus RS: Comparisons of two models of stress masurement: Daily hassles and uplifts versus major life events.Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 1981,4:1–39.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Sarason I, Johnson J, Siegel J: Assessing the impact of life changes: Development of the Life Experiences Survey.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1978,5:932–946.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Grant L, Sweetwood H, Gerst MS, Yager J: Scaling procedures in life events research.Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 1978,22:525–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. McNair DM, Lorr M, Droppleman LF:EDITS Manual for the Profile of Mood States—Revised. San Diego, CA: Educational & Industrial Testing Service, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Wahler HJ:The Wahler Physical Symptoms Inventory Manual. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Jones GN:The Relation Between Daily Stress and Health. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Louisiana State University, 1988.

  43. Kriska AM, Knowler WC, LaPorte RE, et al: Development of questionnaire to examine relationship of physical activity and diabetes in Pima Indians.Diabetes Care. 1990,13:401–408.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Vieweg B, Hedlund J: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ): A comprehensive review.Journal of Operational Psychiatry. 1983,13:71–72.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Gage LW, Leidy NK: Screening for psychosocial distress: Implications for prevention and health promotion.Public Health Nursing. 1991,8:267–275.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. American College of Sports Medicine:Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. Philadelphia, PA: Lea and Febiger, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Pate RR, Pratt M, Blair SN, et al: Physical activity and public health: A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1995,273(5):402–407.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Bahrke MS, Morgan WP: Anxiety reduction following exercise and medication.Cognitive Therapy and Research. 1978,2:323–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Morgan WP: Affective beneficence of vigorous physical activity.Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1985,17:94–100.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Martinsen EW, Stephens T: Exercise and mental health in clinical and free-living populations. In Dishman RK (ed),Advances in Exercise Adherence. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1994, 55–72.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Fletcher GF, Blair SN, Blumenthal J, et al: Statement on exercise: Benefits and recommendations for physical activity programs for all Americans.Circulation. 1992,86:340–344.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 243, 77030-4095, Houston, TX

    Cindy L. Carmack Ph.D. & Carl de Moor Ph.D.

  2. Louisiana State University, Louisiana, USA

    Edwin Boudreaux Ph.D. & Phillip J. Brantley Ph.D.

  3. Ohio University, Ohio, USA

    Marta Amaral-Melendez Ph.D.

  4. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Pennington, USA

    Phillip J. Brantley Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Cindy L. Carmack Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carl de Moor Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Edwin Boudreaux Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marta Amaral-Melendez Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Phillip J. Brantley Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

About this article

Cite this article

Carmack, C.L., de Moor, C., Boudreaux, E. et al. Aerobic fitness and leisure physical activity as moderators of the stress-illness relation. ann. behav. med. 21, 251–257 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02884842

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02884842

Keywords

Search

Navigation