Effects of combining physical activity with mindfulness on mental health and wellbeing: systematic review of complex interventions
Effects of combining physical activity with mindfulness on mental health and wellbeing: systematic review of complex interventions
Background: physical activity and mindfulness practice both have established psychological benefits, yet research into their interaction and combined use is sparse. This systematic review aimed to pool the evidence examining the impact of interventions that combined physical activity and mindfulness on mental health and wellbeing outcomes, and their potential mechanisms of action.
Methods: six databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were searched for trials reporting interventions that included 1) physical activity and mindfulness as primary treatments, 2) comparative control condition(s), 3) an adult sample, and 4) at least one mental health or wellbeing outcome. Screening, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by two researchers. Findings are presented narratively due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity.
Results: out of 7682 search results, 35 trials were included. Most eligible studies had pilot or feasibility designs (n=19, 54%) or small sample sizes. Combined interventions were feasible to deliver and improved psychological health relative to passive controls (25/33 outcome comparisons reported across trials). Effects on psychological health outcomes compared to active controls were mixed (12/38 comparisons favoured combination over physical activity only, 5/18 favoured combination over mindfulness only), as were results regarding physical activity engagement.
Conclusions: interventions combining physical activity with mindfulness are effective for improving mental health and wellbeing, possibly more so than either approach alone. Further research, including larger randomised controlled trials, is required to determine effectiveness and optimal intervention parameters. Exploring mechanisms of change will clarify their effects on mental health, wellbeing, and potential for behaviour change.
Interventions, Mental health, Mindfulness, Physical activity, Review, Wellbeing
Remskar, Masha
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Western, Max J.
e69de9e5-30f4-40e5-923f-e27484bf250f
Osborne, Emma L.
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Maynard, Olivia M.
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Ainsworth, Ben
b02d78c3-aa8b-462d-a534-31f1bf164f81
March 2024
Remskar, Masha
a3d50511-a419-4492-b173-3b32866a0d7f
Western, Max J.
e69de9e5-30f4-40e5-923f-e27484bf250f
Osborne, Emma L.
778546ca-0509-4975-87f2-50e1692eee53
Maynard, Olivia M.
0a222786-dc73-4d17-afbe-49ff55075774
Ainsworth, Ben
b02d78c3-aa8b-462d-a534-31f1bf164f81
Remskar, Masha, Western, Max J., Osborne, Emma L., Maynard, Olivia M. and Ainsworth, Ben
(2024)
Effects of combining physical activity with mindfulness on mental health and wellbeing: systematic review of complex interventions.
Mental Health and Physical Activity, 26, [100575].
(doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2023.100575).
Abstract
Background: physical activity and mindfulness practice both have established psychological benefits, yet research into their interaction and combined use is sparse. This systematic review aimed to pool the evidence examining the impact of interventions that combined physical activity and mindfulness on mental health and wellbeing outcomes, and their potential mechanisms of action.
Methods: six databases (PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were searched for trials reporting interventions that included 1) physical activity and mindfulness as primary treatments, 2) comparative control condition(s), 3) an adult sample, and 4) at least one mental health or wellbeing outcome. Screening, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by two researchers. Findings are presented narratively due to clinical and methodological heterogeneity.
Results: out of 7682 search results, 35 trials were included. Most eligible studies had pilot or feasibility designs (n=19, 54%) or small sample sizes. Combined interventions were feasible to deliver and improved psychological health relative to passive controls (25/33 outcome comparisons reported across trials). Effects on psychological health outcomes compared to active controls were mixed (12/38 comparisons favoured combination over physical activity only, 5/18 favoured combination over mindfulness only), as were results regarding physical activity engagement.
Conclusions: interventions combining physical activity with mindfulness are effective for improving mental health and wellbeing, possibly more so than either approach alone. Further research, including larger randomised controlled trials, is required to determine effectiveness and optimal intervention parameters. Exploring mechanisms of change will clarify their effects on mental health, wellbeing, and potential for behaviour change.
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Remskar_Combining physical activity with mindfulness_MENPA_revised_full
- Accepted Manuscript
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 1 December 2023
e-pub ahead of print date: 20 December 2023
Published date: March 2024
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council [grant number 2381338 ].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
Keywords:
Interventions, Mental health, Mindfulness, Physical activity, Review, Wellbeing
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 485602
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/485602
ISSN: 1755-2966
PURE UUID: b747adf5-1b76-4484-880f-f4836dedb181
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Date deposited: 12 Dec 2023 17:32
Last modified: 27 Apr 2024 01:46
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Contributors
Author:
Masha Remskar
Author:
Max J. Western
Author:
Emma L. Osborne
Author:
Olivia M. Maynard
Author:
Ben Ainsworth
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