ABSTRACT
Running and worrying don’t mix. (Glasser 1976)
Exercise dissipates tension, and tension is the enemy of serenity. (Mandela 1994)
The purpose of this chapter is to review the evidence on the relationship between participation in physical activity and psychological well-being (PWB). Specifically, we review the areas of mood and affect, including enjoyment, self-esteem, cognitive functioning, personality and adjustment, and sleep. Specifically, in this chapter we aim to:
affect ● highlight the definitional problems associated with the construct of enjoyment in exer-
cise and present four approaches to the study of enjoyment in physical activity ● comment on the psychological effects of depriving people of exercise ● provide evidence on factors moderating the relationship between exercise and mood/affect ● summarise the evidence linking physical activity with the development and enhance-
ment of self-esteem and physical self-perceptions ● comment on studies investigating the links between exercise and cognitive functioning,
and exercise and personality/psychological adjustment ● briefly highlight results from meta-analyses on the effects of exercise on sleep ● discuss how physical activity and exercise may provide benefits for women experienc-
ing menstruation, pregnancy or menopause.
