But surprisingly, many of the respondents who increased their physical activity felt the same way. Participants were asked about changes in their physical activity compared to one month previously. In this study, the researchers found that the association between decreased physical activity and stress was confounded by genetic and environmental factors. In addition, anxiety levels were higher among older people and women. Duncan and his colleagues plan to survey this population again to see if the relationships between physical activity and these mental health issues persist or change.

Source: Hindustan Times September 12, 2020 15:30 UTC