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I need to create a power point presentation on exercise and its effects on mental healthMy topic: Exercise and it’s effects on mental health The instructions are in a file please review it so you can know what needs to go on each slide. Please use the 4 of the articles I inserted ( I used these 4 articles in my paper )I had to put a link in here for the fourth article I use because I couldn’t put it into the file; here is my fourth article: https://karger.com/nps/article-pdf/59/4/191/3832632/000223730.pdf I also inserted my paper in a file to help with the details but I know I need more information for the PowerPoint
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Literature Review Presentation Guidelines
You will prepare a 10-12-minute presentation on your chosen Lit Review Research topic.
Guidelines and suggestions
Your presentation should include a brief introduction that provides the audience with a frame of
reference, the presentation’s main body, and a definite conclusion. Your goal is to engage the audience
effectively and convey your message. To do that, you need to focus on science and not be distracted from
your message by graphics that are needlessly complex or difficult to decipher.
The graphics you project on the screen should be chosen carefully to support the spoken word. Your slides
should help clarify your ideas, emphasize important points, show relationships, and provide the visual
information your audience needs to understand your message. Some general guidelines are as follows:
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Keep your visuals clear and straightforward.
Use simple graphs, charts, and diagrams wherever possible.
Avoid using too many colors, patterns, and graphics in one frame.
Use a minimum of words for text and title frames.
Upper and lower-case letters are more legible than all capital letters.
Vary the size of the lettering to emphasize headings and subheadings.
Avoid using more than three font sizes per frame.
Sans serif fonts project better and are easier to read. (Example: Arial.)
Try to maintain the same or similar font size from frame to frame.
Try to keep all types horizontal.
Contrasting colors work best.
Highlight your main point or heading with a dominant color.
Avoid intensely bright or saturated colors that compete with the text.
Keep color schemes consistent throughout the presentation.
During your talk, make specific references to each of your slides.
Avoid a series of slides that merely repeat what you are saying.
Slides’ Format
1. Title slide (1 slide)
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Lit review title
Presented by – Your name
University name and/or logo
2. Introduction (1-2 slides)
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Purpose of research
Summary of research
3. Methodology (1-2 slides)
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Steps used to carry out the lit review
4. Review of Literature (4-6 slides)
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List the results of 4-6 articles that were cited in your lit review
1-2 sentences describing the importance of each
5. Data (4-6 slides)
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Charts, tables, graphs, figures, etc.
6. Discussion (2-4 slides)
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What did the data show?
7. Conclusion (1-2 slides)
Backgrounds
Backgrounds should be unobtrusive. Cool colors (blue, green, turquoise, purple, and magenta) make the
text more readable if contrasting colors are used. Smooth gradation of the color helps. On the other hand,
textured, embossed, or otherwise busy backgrounds tend to draw attention away from the content and
should be avoided.
Graphics
Pictures, graphs, tables, and charts are excellent for communicating complex ideas and providing
meaningful and relevant information. Likewise, a well-placed cartoon can sometimes drive home a point
that might not otherwise be made.
Practice your presentation
Once you have completed your slides, practice your presentation repeatedly. Make sure that each slide is
essential to your message and non-redundant. Carefully review each slide’s content to know which points
to emphasize and why. A general rule of thumb is never to have more than one slide/minute, including
the title and transitional slides. Be brutal when editing your slides, and pay careful attention to those you
tend to become bogged down in explanations.
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1
Exercise and its Effect on Mental Health
Destini Rice
Research Seminar
Review Paper
02/21/2024
2
Introduction
Exercise fulfills the crucial role of keeping us in good health, not just physically but also
mentally. In recent years, attention to what exercising does to an individual’s mental well-being
has significantly increased. This paper focuses on exercise and discusses its impact on mental
health. Exercise refers to physical activities, ranging from structured workouts to daily
movements such as walking and gardening. Independent of its form, exercises are always linked
to better mood, stress reduction, and improved cognitive functions. These effects are connected
to various physiological processes that exercise activates, like endorphins, neurotransmitters, and
growth factors.
A multi-pronged approach is required to understand how exercise influences mental
health. Factors like the type, intensity, duration, and frequency of exercises, along with personal
variations such as age, physical fitness, and mental health stability, need to be taken into
consideration. Recent studies prove the benefits of physical exercise and how it affects
psychological health. Studies have demonstrated that mental health disorders like depression,
anxiety, and stress conditions have a lower risk if the patient is physically active regularly.
Exercise is a natural anti-depressant as it nurtures the release of the neurotransmitters
called endorphins, reducing pain and acting as “happy chemicals ” in the brain. Secondly,
exercise boosts the amount of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are in
charge of controlling moods and emotions. Most neurochemical modifications are the triggers of
happiness, which can be related to their efficiency as a treatment against the symptoms of
depression and anxiety.
3
On the other hand, exercise is a stress reliever that makes individuals cope with the
challenges of life better. This way, we can have a restful sleep while being mentally balanced
and having a good overall mood. Exercise as a routine method improves even the tranquillity of
sleep patterns, enhancing the duration and the quality of sleep as cognitive function and mood
are improved. When the class members join the team sports clubs, a sense of belonging and
excitement is created, and members will not feel lonely or ignored.
However, despite the clear benefits to mental health that exercise presents, some issues
hinder its integration into mental health care. These obstacles include a limited number of safe
and cheap gymnasiums and the lack of awareness among professionals about the relevance of
physical exercise in the promotion of mental health. These barriers can be addressed through
collaboration with healthcare providers, policymakers, communities, and individuals. Programs
that promote physical activity should focus on making safe and inclusive exercising
environments, educating and training mental health professionals, and dealing with personal
problems through personalized interventions and social support.
Review of the Literature
Exercise has emerged as a prospective intervention that can enhance mental health within
different groups of people. In their study, Ashdown-Franks et al. (2020) carried out a metareview study that revealed the role exercise plays in improving brain function outcomes in
individuals with mental disorders. They revealed that exercise appears to be an invaluable
support therapy approach not only in moderate depression but also in the treatment of severe
cases of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. This broad overview demonstrates
the positive effect of using exercise as an all-encompassing strategy for dealing with mental
health challenges. Simultaneously, encompassing a very wide spectrum of mental issues, the
4
study points to the possibilities of the use of exercise interventions as a contribution to improved
mental health across very diverse population groups. Overall, the results highlight exercises as an
alternative therapy that can be applicable in improving mental health.
Similarly, Biddle et al. (2019) addressed the association between exercise and mental
health in children and adolescents. This was achieved by their summarization and analysis of
past research. They sought to determine the direction of cause and effect between physical
activity and the well-being of young people. The findings of studies explored the link between
physical activity and mental health in youths, indicating a strong positive link. This means that
plans should be drawn to motivate youth, either below adolescents or in that age bracket, to live
healthy lives to nurture their mental growth. The emphasis on preserving the significance of
physical activities in youth implies that exercise can play a preventive role in developing mental
health problems in adults.
In their study, Bell et al. (2019) conducted an intensive analysis to identify the
relationships between physical exercise, mental health, and psychiatric stress in teenagers. The
study focused on an individual group of adolescents in the UK for a long period. The research
was done to prove that physical activity of the youth can help fight mental health problems,
which are a common occurrence among young people. The study’s results revealed that
adolescents’ mental well-being improved through physical activity. This directly gives the
meaning that the absence of physical activity like regular exercise or even being physically
active can be a cause of mental health problems in teenagers. The research paper elucidates the
centrality of physical exercises in upholding mental health in teens, which is crucial to their
general well-being. This highlights the need for physical activity programs and adolescent
interventions in schools and the community.
5
Deslandes et al. (2009) reviewed how exercise works out about mental health as people
age. They looked at both the emotional and physical effects of exercising and how it can be
helpful in the reduction of stress. By drawing evidence from the studies on both animals and
humans, they highlighted the need for physical activities on the mental health of the elderly,
especially in delaying or even preventing dementia. In addition, it identified the role of exercise
in lowering stress. Exercise elicits endorphins, substances in the brain that act as antidepressants. This could mean seniors cope with stress better and gain better mental health by
being physically active. Ultimately, Deslandes et al. (2009) reinforced that regular physical
activity is a key factor in the elderly’s cognitive health.
Faulkner and Biddle (2001) conducted a study to understand how the course directors of
the clinical psychology programs in England view the role of exercise in treating mental health.
Through qualitative methods, they explored the attitudes of healthcare workers about integrating
exercise into patient care. The study showed that course directors’ answers were different, with
some of them relatively skeptical about the psycho-physical therapeutic effect of exercise on
mental disorders. These individuals typically saw exercise as a need compared to conventional
therapy.
Both Faulkner and Biddle pointed out some limitations that prevented incorporating
exercise as a treatment modality in clinical psychology programs. One of the major obstacles
was the uncertainty among health professionals about the usefulness of exercise interventions in
contrast to a typical treatment plan. There was also the concern that the exercise programs could
not be implemented within the prevailing treatment models.
Grasdalsmoen et al. (2020) led a research study to understand how mental health issues
among college students are related to physical exercise. A group of students was studied, and the
6
research was able to identify if there was a relation between how much they exercised and their
mental health. What the results expressed was that the trainees who underwent more mental
health interventions were not likely to struggle with their mental health issues or think of
committing suicide at any point in their lives. This suggests that the pro-mental health effects of
physical activity show that even young adults enjoy such benefits.
Research indicates that exercise is a health-promoting tool for mental wellness and
should be the most important task. This indicates that there is a potential opportunity for the
mental health of student colleges to be improved if physical activity is perceived as a route to
achieving desirable mental outcomes among the population. By incorporating it into their daily
lifestyle, they are less likely to develop mental disorders and will have a better mental balance
than those who do not work out.
In his article, Holmes (2022) discussed the potential of exercise as an economical and
readily available tool for managing depression and anxiety. He, in particular, highlighted the
weaknesses of mainstream medical solutions because of the associated side effects and costs.
Through education about options for improving mood, thinking, and all-around health using
exercise, individuals can gain more ideas on managing mental health. This indicates that exercise
could be an addition to current treatment options for depression and anxiety, which would give
the people of today who suffer from these conditions a more holistic approach to managing
mental health issues. According to the author, exercises present a positive path to getting rid of
mental health disorders, regulating moods, and improving people’s general well-being.
Herbert et al. (2020) conducted smaller trials to see how college students’ physical
activities and short bursts of aerobic exercises affect their mental health and overall well-being.
The studies confirmed that involvement in exercises consisting of either regular physical activity
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or short aerobic intervals brought good results as it improved the students’ mental health. To their
utter delight, the researchers found the same results when the students worked out online as when
they worked out in a lab. To further scrutinize the effect of aerobic exercises such as running and
short bursts of aerobic activity on the mood of university students, the researchers conducted a
pilot study. The results indicated better mental health outcomes for the students who participated
in physical activities through regular or short aerobic exercises in labs and on the Internet. The
authors concluded that adding an exercise routine to students’ habits will make them feel better
psychologically.
In their study, Morris et al. (2019) conducted a comprehensive review and data analysis
to examine the effectiveness of exercise programs, such as aerobic types of exercise, in people
struggling with major depressive disorder. During these studies, it was observed that aerobic
exercise not only led to notable changes in the level of depression but also provided a greater
reduction in depression as compared to those who never exercised. In their study, they used a
meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of aerobic exercise intervention programs for adults with
depression through multi-study data synthesis. The results of their study demonstrated that
exercising aerobically causally led to lowering the levels of depressive symptoms relative to nonexercising control groups.
While this verifies the possible use of exercise as an additional treatment for depression
within mental health services, it does not negate other treatment methods that work. Through the
incorporation of exercise into the treatment of depression, mental health professionals can
consequently enhance the potency of treatments while also positively influencing treatment
outcomes for affected individuals.
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Maugeri et al. (2020) conducted a study to explain the impact of practicing sports on
people’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. The community was interviewed
about how physical activity habits changed during the lockdown, and researchers discovered that
many people changed how much they exercised because of the circumstances. Their study
demonstrated that continuing activities during a quarantine made people feel good mentally. This
gives the impression that promoting physical activity can help people cope with dark times, such
as social isolation and uncertainty. The findings of their study showed that people who regularly
practiced physical activities during the pandemic were likelier to have good mental health than
others. This demonstrates the importance of physical activity for people coping during social
isolation or uncertainty.
Mikkelsen et al. (2017) reviewed research studies to assess the effects of exercise on the
emotional conditions that are associated with anxiety, stress, and depression. Through different
lenses, they gave their views on how exercise is tied to one’s mental health and narrated this
differently from the physiological and psychological vantage points. Brain functions were
discovered to be altered when working out, and chemicals that can elevate one’s mood were
released. Moreover, physical activity can lower the inflammation within the body and improve
the overall health of individuals. Physiologically, carrying out exercise can cause the release of
neurotransmitters, which help regulate mood and reduce inflammation of the body, which may,
in turn, enhance one’s mental wellness.
A review by Pascoe et al. (2020) aimed to investigate the effects of physical activity and
exercise on mental health among youths. It was shown that there’s not enough evidence to back
up the claim yet, but it appears doing exercise can moderate depressive symptoms in children.
They state that there is no strong evidence for the time being, and more research is needed. Their
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review of the relevant literature gives them insight into how physical activity interventions can
improve the youth’s mental health.
The present study seems to reveal that moderate to vigorous physical activity acts as an
antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent among the youth. It underscores the necessity of deeper
research for more robust and actionable findings and planning mental health promotion
initiatives in this community. This pinpoints the need for additional research that would evaluate
the significance of physical activity in promoting the mental health of young people and
mitigating mental problems.
The findings of Robinson et al. (2019) reveal that exercise of the body proves to be a
therapeutic way for people suffering from depression, anxiety, or ADHD. It is a well-known fact
that when people work out, their psychological state improves, which improves their positive
thinking. Furthermore, they highlight that exercise isn’t only about improving your physical
health and making your life better if done correctly. In their review, they have pointed out the
positive influence of physical exercises on people’s mood, cognition, and quality of life.
This also indicates that regular exercise is a powerful tool for mental health treatment and
promotion among different population groups. The authors underscore the positive effect of
exercise on mental health on a wide scale, which closes with a call for including physical activity
in broad-spectrum mental health management. This reveals the possibility of exercise as an
intervention between different populations, leading to increased efforts to integrate physical
activity into mental health promotion strategies.
Strohle (2019) talked about ways the subfield of sports psychiatry has transformed over
the last thirty years. In the article, the author discusses the mental health issues affecting athletes
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and the types of exercises that can be used to treat mental disorders. He added that there is a lack
of final results on the most effective interventions for taking care of the mental health of athletes.
In the author’s words, the healing power of physical activity was mainly emphasized as it had the
vast possibilities to be used as a regenerative treatment, with all its recommendations being
based on research. This underlines the importance of paying continuous attention to the research
on the efficacy of exercise interventions in managing mental health issues in professional sports
and exercise, balancing the need to create new approaches that are physically accessible to
athletes.
Smith & Merwin (2020) in their study expressed their views on the utility of exercise in
managing mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. The authors spotlight that
performing balancing sports, such as jogging and weightlifting, improves an individual’s brain
and mental well-being. In this review, Smith and Merwin emphasized the power of exercise in
enhancing the mental state of individuals, particularly those who are depressed and those with
anxiety disorder. A thorough investigation of several studies showed that aerobic and resistance
exercises can help mitigate common mental health issues.
In their study, Teachenne et al. (2020) reviewed studies on current physical activity
recommendations and their linkage to mental health status. They pushed for collecting more data
about how much exercise per week offers mental health benefits. After carefully considering the
existing recommendations and meta-analyses, they highlighted the question of whether the
current guidelines adequately consider mental and physical health. They accentuate that the
guidelines should be more than just physical activity but also a mental health-informed approach
that is better positioned to promote overall wellness. Such a statement calls for additional
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research that verifies the need to balance physical perks and mental health components of
physical activity.
The study by Zhang et al. (2020) aimed to establish the extent to which the mental health
of Chinese college students was affected by the impact of COVID-19. Mental health state
declined during the crisis, but fortunately, physical activity was an exit from the gray zone.
Authors indicate that exercise is important for mental health and even more so during a crisis,
such as the pandemic. Zhang et al. (2020) showed the state of the psychological well-being of
college students in China during the pandemic using a longitudinal study. From the study, there
were certain effects, such as on mental health, which turned out to be quite important because of
the need to focus on mental health issues during the crisis time. Another finding was that
exercise had a protective effect, suggesting that healthier habits may help mitigate mental wellbeing challenges. This illustrates the great power of exercise as an easy yet effective tool for
increasing mental health standing during unfavorable times.
The literature review generally indicates that exercise, across different populations and
settings, can help improve mental health. Physical activity may bear different degrees of
influence on children, adolescents, adults, and athletes, improving mood, reducing depression
and anxiety symptoms, and boosting their general well-being. The outcomes reiterate the need to
recognize physical activity as one of the keystones in mental health promotion, highlighting its
potential to be the low-cost intervention with the best results for the global burden of mental
illness.
Conclusions and Recommendations
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The broad outlook of the literature review suggests a stronger positive effect of exercise
on mental health in most demographics and environments. Several studies support that regular
participation in physical activity can reduce depressive and anxious symptoms, increase stress
coping skills, lower cognitive functions, and improve the quality of life. These benefits include
physical mechanisms like the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters, and psychological
factors.
Incorporating physical exercise and making it part of mental health treatment can help
those struggling with mental distress in various ways. The studies provided evidence that the
practice of physical exercises, most of the time, not only reduces the symptoms of depression
and anxiety but also improves general psychological toughness. Through mental healthcare
frameworks, healthcare providers can synchronize therapy with exercise and unleash their
therapeutic potential, which will help the individuals in their recovery process. The emphasis on
the role of physical activity within mental health discourse also crystalizes the notion of physical
activity as its cornerstone. It thus renders the overall mental health discourse more consistent and
comprehensive.
Destigmatizing the social stigma attached to mental illness and creating a well-being
culture entails the reduction of existing attitudes and perceptions toward psychological wellness.
When mental health discussions are restructured around physical activity as an integral part of
wellness, the emphasis is placed on the whole person. It encourages individuals to take action
and seek resources to maintain mental health. The misgivings and myths about mental illness can
be mitigated through targeted education programs and community advocacy, thus paving the
way for wider support and acceptance for people living with this challenge.
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Based on the highlighted evidence, a series of recommendations for practicing exercises
as interventions for mental health development emerge. Primarily, medical practitioners should
regularly evaluate and push for the inclusion of physical activity as part of mental health
treatment, considering it as equivalent to and an effective replacement for traditional therapeutic
approaches. The second action that they should then do is to focus on investments in communityoriented exercise programs and infrastructure facilities, which aim to increase their universal
accessibility and affordability to areas with different income categories, with special attention on
areas that are disadvantaged communities. Lastly, collective efforts should be geared towards the
reduction of the stigma of mental illnesses and towards the promotion of a culture based on
holistic well-being, whereby physical activity is expected to become one of the essential
components of self-care habits.
Policy-driven initiatives that promote the inclusion of exercise resources and facilities as
a viable option can immensely improve the inclusion of mental health care services. Through
community-based exercise programs funded for infrastructure and policies, policymakers can
reduce access barriers, particularly in low-resource and marginalized areas where people may
have limited support resources. Furthermore, forging partnerships between healthcare entities
and local community groups will help extend such initiatives’ reach and boost their effectiveness.
Generally, the research demonstrating the therapeutic impact of exercise on mental wellbeing turns out to be well-grounded and convincing. Mental health policies should emphasize
integrating physical activity into mental health care and spend more on developing communitybased exercise programs because these are the two most effective measures. In addition, these
initiatives to uncouple stigma from mental illness and create a culture of wellness can motivate
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people to embark on their own mental health journeys, which will, in turn, increase their
capacities to overcome challenges and thus create a state of general well-being.
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References
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Stubbs, B. (2020). Exercise as medicine for mental and substance use disorders: a metareview of the benefits for neuropsychiatric and cognitive outcomes. Sports Medicine, 50,
151-170.
Bell, S. L., Audrey, S., Gunnell, D., Cooper, A., & Campbell, R. (2019). The relationship
between physical activity, mental wellbeing and symptoms of mental health disorder in
adolescents: a cohort study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical
Activity, 16, 1-12.
Biddle, S. J., Ciaccioni, S., Thomas, G., & Vergeer, I. (2019). Physical activity and mental health
in children and adolescents: An updated review of reviews and an analysis of
causality. Psychology of sport and exercise, 42, 146-155.
Deslandes, A., Moraes, H., Ferreira, C., Veiga, H., Silveira, H., Mouta, R., … & Laks, J. (2009).
Exercise and mental health: many reasons to move. Neuropsychobiology, 59(4), 191-198.
Faulkner, G., & Biddle, S. (2001). Exercise and mental health: It’s just not psychology! Journal
of Sports Sciences, 19(6), 433-444.
Grasdalsmoen, M., Eriksen, H. R., Lønning, K. J., & Sivertsen, B. (2020). Physical exercise,
mental health problems, and suicide attempts in university students. BMC
Psychiatry, 20(1), 1-11.
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Herbert, C., Meixner, F., Wiebking, C., & Gilg, V. (2020). Regular physical activity, short-term
exercise, mental health, and well-being among university students: the results of an
online and a laboratory study. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 509.
Holmes, B. (2022) Exercise boosts the brain — and mental health.
Maugeri, G., Castrogiovanni, P., Battaglia, G., Pippi, R., D’Agata, V., Palma, A., … &
Musumeci, G. (2020). The impact of physical activity on psychological health during the
Covid-19 pandemic in Italy. Heliyon, 6(6).
Mikkelsen, K., Stojanovska, L., Polenakovic, M., Bosevski, M., & Apostolopoulos, V. (2017).
Exercise and mental health. Maturitas, 106, 48-56.
Morres, I. D., Hatzigeorgiadis, A., Stathi, A., Comoutos, N., Arpin‐Cribbie, C., Krommidas, C.,
& Theodorakis, Y. (2019). Aerobic exercise for adult patients with major depressive
disorder in mental health services: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Depression
and anxiety, 36(1), 39-53.
Pascoe, M., Bailey, A. P., Craike, M., Carter, T., Patten, R., Stepto, N., & Parker, A. (2020).
Physical activity and exercise in youth mental health promotion: A scoping review. BMJ
open sport & exercise medicine, 6(1), e000677.
Robinson, L., Segal, J., & Smith, M. (2019). The mental health benefits of exercise. HelpGuide
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Smith, P. J., & Merwin, R. M. (2021). The role of exercise in management of mental health
disorders: an integrative review. Annual review of medicine, 72, 45-62.
Ströhle, A. (2019). Sports psychiatry: mental health and mental disorders in athletes and exercise
treatment of mental disorders. European archives of psychiatry and clinical
neuroscience, 269(5), 485-498.
Teychenne, M., White, R. L., Richards, J., Schuch, F. B., Rosenbaum, S., & Bennie, J. A.
(2020). Do we need physical activity guidelines for mental health? What does the
evidence tell us? Mental health and physical activity, 18, 100315.
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3722.
CREDIT: CHIARA VERCESI
THE MIND
Exercise boosts the brain —
and mental health
Working out buffs up the body — and perhaps the mind, too. New
research is revealing how physical activity can reduce and even ward off
depression, anxiety and other psychological ailments.
By Bob Holmes
01.21.2022
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ental health disorders such as depression and anxiety aren’t easy to treat.
Medications help many but have a high failure rate and may bring nasty side
effects. Talk therapy is time-consuming and expensive. And neither approach is suited
to preventing the disorders from developing in the first place. But many people
overlook another option that, when it works, can be one of the most effective, least
disruptive and cheapest ways of managing mental health disorders: exercise.
It’s hardly news that exercise is good for your physical health, and has long been
extolled for mental health as well. But researchers are now making progress in
understanding how, exactly, exercise may work its mental magic.
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Exercise, they are learning, has profound
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sometimes social stimulation, all of which
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modest levels of physical activity, such as a
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“It’s a very potent intervention to be
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But that knowledge has barely begun to percolate into practice, says Joseph Firth, a
mental health researcher at the University of Manchester in the UK. Just ask a hundred
people receiving mental health care how many are getting exerc
