Relationships Between Physical Activity and Symptoms of Stress, Anxiety and Depression

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between physical activity and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression in adults. The sample consisted of 194 participants, aged 18 to 65, of whom 66% were women and 34% were men, mostly from Belgrade, Novi Sad and Kikinda, with over 70% having a higher education degree. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21), and a Socio-demographic questionnaire. The results partially confirmed the hypotheses that physical activity negatively affects symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety. A negative correlation was found between the intensity of physical activity and symptoms of stress and depression, while the association with anxiety was not significant. The results showed that light physical activity, such as walking, significantly predicted lower levels of depression, while moderate and vigorous physical activity did not show a significant effect. This study contributes to a better understanding of the relationship between physical activity and psychological symptoms by analyzing the results in the context of previous research and providing guideline for future studies.