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Exercise, Stress and Health: The Stress-Buffering Effect of Exercise

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Handbuch Stressregulation und Sport

Part of the book series: Springer Reference Psychologie ((SRP))

Abstract

This chapter examines two stress-related characteristics of exercise in more detail: (a) the relationship between exercise and perceived stress and (b) the stress-buffering effect of exercise. Cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental evidence are presented and analysed. Findings support the assumption that engagement in exercise can lead to reductions in perceived stress levels but that at the same time higher perceived stress levels might also cause decreases in exercise behaviour. Furthermore, empirical evidence supports the assumption that exercise and fitness buffer detrimental stress effects on mental and physical health. However, many questions still remain unanswered.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Example: The Relative Risk is calculated by dividing the probability of physical inactivity levels in a highly stressed group (e.g., 50 in 100) by the probability of physical inactivity in a non-stressed group (e.g., 10 in 50) – RR = (50/100)/(10/50) = 2.5. The Odd Ratio is calculated by dividing the odds for physical inactivity in a highly stressed group (50 inactive/50 active) through the odds for physical inactivity in a non-stressed group (10 inactive/40 active) – OR = (50/50)/(10/40) = 4.

  2. 2.

    In line with the TTM the study differentiated between five primary stages of exercise behaviour and used the following classification: 1. Precontemplation (no intention to exercise within next 6 months); 2. Contemplation (thinking about starting to exercise within next 6 months); 3. Preparation (exercising less than 3x/week for 20 min or more each time); 4. Action (exercising regularly, at least 3x/week for at least 20 min, but for less than 6 months); 5. Maintenance (exercising regularly, at least 3x/week for at least 20 min, for at least 6 months).

  3. 3.

    One of the studies is the study from O’Dougherty et al. (2012); as it also tested the stress buffer effect it is listed in Table 2 [#13]. The authors did not find a significant intervention effect on perceived stress levels.

  4. 4.

    Taylor (1991) (see Table 1 [10]) did also test for stress-exercise interaction effects on depression and anxiety. However, they used pre-intervention stress levels for their calculations, thus the finding will not be listed here.

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  1. Department of Life Sciences, University of Roehampton, Holybourne Avenue, SW15 4JD, London, UK

    Sandra Klaperski

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  1. Institut für Sport und Sportwissenschaft, Universität Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany

    Reinhard Fuchs

  2. Institut für Sport und Sportwissenschaft, Universität Basel Institut für Sport und Sportwissenschaft, Basel, Switzerland

    Markus Gerber

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Klaperski, S. (2016). Exercise, Stress and Health: The Stress-Buffering Effect of Exercise. In: Fuchs, R., Gerber, M. (eds) Handbuch Stressregulation und Sport. Springer Reference Psychologie . Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49411-0_8-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-49411-0_8-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-49411-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-49411-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Referenz Naturwissenschaften

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