A Review: The Relationship Between Exercise and Anxiety Levels

Hussein Ali Abdulabbas  Alhusseini; Zaman Ahmed Hrefish; Mohammed Abbas   Hussein

doi:10.48165/sajssh.2024.5603

Authors

Hussein Ali Abdulabbas Alhusseini Faculty of Nursing, University of Babylon, Hillah, Iraq.
Zaman Ahmed Hrefish Faculty of Nursing, University of Babylon, Hillah, Iraq.
Mohammed Abbas Hussein Faculty of Nursing, University of Babylon, Hillah, Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/sajssh.2024.5603

Keywords:

Anxiety, Exercise, Non-pharmacological treatment, Neurobiology, Psychosocial factors

Abstract

Anxiety disorders are among the most common challenges of mental health, impacting people across all demographics and lessening overall quality of life. While traditional managements, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are commonly used, these interferences may not be appropriate for everyone due to personal preferences or side effects. Therefore, there is increasing interest in non-pharmacological substitutes like exercise. This review inspects the multifaceted relationship between anxiety and exercise, framed within the biopsychosocial model, which studies the interplay of social factors, psychological, and biological. Exercise has been shown to lessen anxiety symptoms by chronic and acute mechanisms, including physiological changes like neurotransmitter modulation, cognitive benefits such as improved executive functioning, and emotional advantages like enhanced self-efficacy and mood. The review highlights both immediate and long-term anxiolytic effects of exercise, supported by neurobiological and psychosocial evidence. However, questions remain about the most effective exercise regimens for anxiety reduction and the mechanisms through which they work. Understanding these aspects is crucial for developing targeted exercise-based interventions to promote mental health.

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