Physical activity as a moderator of life events and somatic complaints: a longitudinal study

During the past 15 years a very large number of studies have shown that life events are a significant stressor with attendant physiological and psychological outcomes. Much of this research was summarized by Dohrenwend and Dohrenwend (1974). There is also considerable literature suggesting that physical activity may be an effective coping mechanism which can buffer the relationship between an environmental stressor and such psychological and physiological outcomes. This paper reports on the relationship of life change events and somatic complaints and the moderating effects of physical activity. The study was longitudinal involving 278 managers from 12 different corporations. All participants were men. Data have been collected at entry, two years later, and four years later. This provides two test periods in which the data are analysed. Analyses are by way of multiple regression and in both time periods the change data support the hypothesis that somatic complaints are significantly related to both life events and physical activity. The results also show that physical activity has a significant buffering effect on the relationship between life events and somatic complaints. These findings lend strong support to the hypothesis that physical activity can be a significant moderator of the effects of environmental stress.