Introduction to Study

Project Title

A study on the relationship between frequency of physical exercise and emotional well-being

Need for study

OT students are constantly experiencing high levels of stress due to the intensive curriculum. By finding out if exercising increases emotional well-being, it serves as an outlet to relieve their stress levels and ensures emotional regulation. At the same time, it targets physical health as well.

OT students are an important part of the future healthcare workforce. Poor health behavior is linked to physical and psychological problems that may result in an increasing number of students quitting the course resulting in a further shortage of occupational therapists who are in high demand at this period of time.

Hypothesis

Null Hypothesis
There is no relation between frequency of physical exercise and emotional well-being

Alternate Hypothesis

There is a positive relationship between frequency of physical exercise and emotional well-being. (i.e an increase in frequency of exercise would lead to better emotional well-being)

Constructs

Independent variable: Frequency of physical exercise (measured by Godin Leisure Time Scale)

Dependent variable: Emotional Well-being (measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale)

Extraneous variable: Age, Gender, Stressful Events in past 2 weeks

Defining Variables

Physical exercise: Physical activity in daily life can be categorized into occupational, sports, conditioning, household, or other activities. Exercise is a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive and has as a final or an intermediate objective the improvement or maintenance of physical fitness. (Caspersen, Powell & Christenson, 1985)

Emotional well-being: A positive sense of wellbeing which enables an individual to be able to function in society and meet the demands of everyday life. (Mental Health Foundation, 2016)

References

Caspersen, C. J., K. L. Powell, and G. M. Christenson. "Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physical Fitness: Definitions and Distinctions for Health-related Research." Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physical Fitness: Definitions and Distinctions for Health-related Research. (1985): 126-31.

Mental Health Foundation. (2016). About Mental Health. Retrieved June 13, 2016 from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/about-mental-health