Sport Psych Topic 2: Exercise and Mental Health

Question 1

Key Research - Lewis et al

Answer 1

Aims:
1) to examine the effects of a dance interventions on the mood in the elderly, specifically those with Parkinson’s disorders
2) to test the long term effects and short term effects

Sample:
37 people aged 50-80 were recruited through local advertisements and support groups.
22 had mild to moderate PD and 15 were the control group and 8 of those were carers

IV = whether the participant had PD and the cycle time
DV = the participants mood scores

Procedure:
- Participants completed the POMS for the previous month and had done a demographics questionnaire (week 1)
- they then did a week dance session for 10 weeks (weeks 2-11), the sessions were standardised by: 10 min warm up, 30 min dancing, 5 min break and a 5 min cooldown.
- in the 9th week, they completed a Brums tests before and after the dance session to provide short cycle data.
- few days after the 10th session, they were asked to complete POMS for the second time
- data from 30 ppts were recorded (17pd+13 control group)

Main Results:
- Differences were found in the PD POMS baseline figures for tension, confusion, vigour and TMD from POMS geriatrics norms = control subjects didn’t differ.
- PD ppts showed higher TMD scores than the control group. Results showed a significant reduction in mood distortion over long cycle time and anger was reduced.

Explanations:
- dance steps and timing provide mental challenges
- dance is a sociable form of exercise so a social dance activity helps to improve their mood

Question 2

Steinberg and Sykes: Endorphin hypothesis

Answer 2

• suggest that doing vigorous physical activities produces natural pain killing substance endorphins in response to stress on the body
• the endorphins is released in the bloodstream by the pituitary gland and into the brain.
• endorphins are chemically similar to the opiate morphine, this then results in reducing synaptic activity to control pain and this can explain runners high

Question 3

McNair: POMS

Answer 3

• questionnaire was used to assess mood
• 65 questions that participants rate their mood against
• they rate how much they’re felt that way in the past week from ‘not at all’ to ‘extremely’
• scores added up to give total mood disturbance scores
• separate scores for anger, fatigue, confession, tension, depression and vigour

Question 4

Peacock, Pine and Pretty: Green Exercise

Answer 4

• investigated the beneficial effects of outdoor walking on mood.
• POMS test was taken before and after exericse
• the outdoor walk took place in a country park (diverse landscape) of grasslands. Indoor exercise involved walking around a shopping centre
• 20ppts from MIND group did both walks (7 males, and 13 females) POMS was given immediately before and after walks
• significant improvement in TMD for the outdoor walking group = p>0.01. Significant reduction in anger, confusion, depression and fatigue
• changes in overall mood disturbance for indoor walking group only 0.5 increase in tension and confusion levels.