8 Wonderful Ways Spirituality Boosts Mental & Physical Health (P)
Science is uncovering powerful links between spirituality, the mind and the body.
Category: Mental Health
When Giving Mental Health Advice, Most People Make This Mistake (M)
The problem with the mental health advice most people give is easily corrected.
The Personality Trait That Shapes Mental Health — Beyond Neuroticism (M)
The link between neuroticism and mental health is well known, but another trait has been overlooked.
The Most Basic Sign That Your Brain Is Healthy (M)
This is an indicator of brain health and a better functioning memory.
The Surprising Truth About How Mental Illness Runs In Families (M)
Scientists followed the family trees of 3 million people for 50 years – what they found about mental illness will surprise you.
The Group Activity That Protects The Brain From Stress
The activity improved mental quality of life by 13 percent, physical quality by 25 percent and emotional quality by 26 percent.
The activity improved mental quality of life by 13 percent, physical quality by 25 percent and emotional quality by 26 percent.
Group exercise lowers stress by 26 percent, while working out alone does not reduce stress.
The study also found that group fitness classes improved people’s quality of life, while working out alone did not.
Dr Dayna Yorks, the study’s first author, said:
“The communal benefits of coming together with friends and colleagues, and doing something difficult, while encouraging one another, pays dividends beyond exercising alone.
The findings support the concept of a mental, physical and emotional approach to health that is necessary for student doctors and physicians.”
The research was carried out on 69 medical students, who are known for their high-stress, low-satisfaction lifestyles.
For 12 weeks, some of the students did an exercise program either in groups or on their own.
Both were compared to a control group who did no extra exercise.
The results showed that those working out in a group saw all sorts of benefits the other groups did not.
Group exercise improved mental quality of life by 13 percent, physical quality by 25 percent and emotional quality by 26 percent.
Stress was also reduced by 26 percent.
In comparison, those exercising alone — despite exercising for twice as long — only saw an 11 percent boost to their mental quality of life and no increases in other areas.
Naturally, the control group (who did nothing different) saw no changes.
Dr Yorks said:
“Medical schools understand their programs are demanding and stressful.
Given this data on the positive impact group fitness can have, schools should consider offering group fitness opportunities.
Giving students an outlet to help them manage stress and feel better mentally and physically can potentially alleviate some of the burnout and anxiety in the profession.”
The study was published in the The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (Yorks et al., 2017).
10 Brutal Workplace Truths: How Jobs Destroy Mental Health (P)
From depression to suicide risk, 10 studies show how workplaces are sabotaging mental health.
This Type Of City Greenery Lifts Mood To The Maximum (M)
One natural city feature quiets the depressed and anxious mind best.
The Critical Mistake Many Therapists Make When Treating Mental Illness (M)
Distress and well-being are not two sides of the same coin and what that means for treatment.
The Best Type Of Jobs For Good Mental Health (M)
How jobs can be adjusted to improve people’s mental and physical health.
