The Impact of Exercise on Women’s Mental Health: ASICS’ Move Her Mind Study

The Impact of Exercise on Women’s Mental Health

A recent study conducted by ASICS, known as the Move Her Mind study, has shed light on the significant impact of exercise on women’s mental health. The study, which involved 26 focus groups and nearly 25,000 participants worldwide, revealed a clear correlation between a woman’s activity level and her mental well-being.

According to People magazine, women who engaged in regular exercise reported feeling 50% more energized, 48% more confident, and 52% happier compared to when they were inactive. On the other hand, those who did not exercise consistently reported feeling 67% more anxious and 80% more frustrated, highlighting the importance of physical activity in managing negative emotions.

Despite the benefits of exercise, more than half of the women surveyed cited lack of time as a major barrier to staying active. Lead researcher Dr. Dee Dlugonski noted that women face various obstacles to being as active as they would like, with insufficient time and other commitments being the most common barriers reported.

The study also found that motherhood significantly impacted women’s ability to exercise regularly, with over 60% of women attributing their decreased activity levels to having children. Furthermore, as women aged, their level of exercise tended to decline, with work and lack of time being the top reasons for discontinuing physical activity.

Dlugonski highlighted the gendered expectations that women face, particularly in caregiving roles, which often limit their free time for exercise or sports. The study’s findings underscore the importance of addressing barriers to physical activity for women to improve their mental well-being and overall health.