Emotional Response to Various Exercise Types in Patients With Mental Disorders

Objectives This study examined the relationship between different types of exercise bouts and emotional responses in patients with mental disorders. Methods This study utilized an acute pre-/post-interventional design. Patients participated in six types of exercises: yoga, strength training, dual-task exercises, aerobic exercises, multicomponent exercises, and dance. These sessions were conducted for 60 minutes per day, once a week, from June 2018 to February 2019. Emotional states, including pleasantness, relaxation, and anxiety, were evaluated using the Mood Check List-Short Form 2 before and after each session. Results Twenty-four patients with mental disorders, including mood disorders, schizophrenia, and other conditions, aged 20-77 years, participated in a total of 272 sessions across six exercise types. Significant emotional changes were observed before and after the exercises, with an increase in pleasant feelings and a decrease in unpleasant feelings for all exercise types except the dual-task exercises. Yoga, in particular, showed large effect sizes for emotional changes, ranging from 0.65 to 0.72. Conclusions Yoga was found to enhance pleasantness and relaxation while reducing anxiety, whereas dual-task exercises appeared less effective in providing these benefits. These findings can help inform the selection of effective exercise methods for patients with mental disorders.