Evidence for anxiety , psychological stress , psychological well-being , subjective well-being and social isolation and loneliness varied in volume and effectiveness , but no harmful effects were identified .
The setting and context of walking seems to be important variables .
Background / objectives Walking has well-established positive relationships with , and effects on , physical health .
In contrast , while poor mental health contributes substantially to global health burden , an overview of the benefits from walking has not previously been published .
We aim ed to scope the literature and present what is known , and highlight what is not known , about walking and mental health .
Customary physical activity and psychological wellbeing: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVES to assess longitudinal relationships between habitual levels of physical activity and indices of psychological wellbeing in older people . DESIGN baseline assessment with 4- and 8-year follow-ups . SUBJECTS 1042 people originally aged 65 and over r and omly sample d from general practitioner lists in Nottingham , UK . METHODS logistic regression analysis of selected T1 ( 1985 ) and T2 ( 1989 ) variables , with depression at T2 as dependent ; multiple regression analyses of selected T1 , T2 and T3 ( 1993 ) variables , with life satisfaction at T2 ( model 1 ) or T3 ( model 2 ) as dependent . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES question naire-assessed  levels of physical activity ; 14-item Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression scale ; 13-item Life Satisfaction Index ; health , demographic and social activity variables . RESULTS in the logistic regression model , depression at T2 was most strongly associated with depression [ odds ratio ( OR ) = 7.13 ; 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) = 3.25 - 15.64 ; P < 0.001 ] and lower physical health status ( OR = 1.26 per unit change in score ; 95 % CI = 1.17 - 1.42 ; P < 0.001 ) at T1 . Lower levels of outdoor/leisure activities at T1 were also associated with some increased risk of depression 4 years later ( OR = 0.92 per hour of activity ; 95 % CI = 0.85 - 0.99 ; P < 0.05 ) . Similar predictive patterns emerged from the multiple regression analyses where , in both models , earlier levels of life satisfaction , social engagement and health accounted for most of the explained variance in life satisfaction ( R2 = 0.42 for model 1 ; R2 = 0.35 for model 2 ) . Again , however , earlier levels of physical activity ( as walking and housework ) did contribute significantly , although modestly , to longitudinal changes in morale . CONCLUSIONS while the results provide some support for the conclusion that physical activity contributes independently to the promotion and maintenance of psychological wellbeing in later life , this contribution is , at best , extremely modest
Evidence for anxiety , psychological stress , psychological well-being , subjective well-being and social isolation and loneliness varied in volume and effectiveness , but no harmful effects were identified .
The setting and context of walking seems to be important variables .
Background / objectives Walking has well-established positive relationships with , and effects on , physical health .
In contrast , while poor mental health contributes substantially to global health burden , an overview of the benefits from walking has not previously been published .
We aim ed to scope the literature and present what is known , and highlight what is not known , about walking and mental health .