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 .
Dose–response relationships between physical activity, walking and health-related quality of life in mid-age and older women
Background Although physical activity is associated with health-related quality of life ( HRQL ) , the nature of the dose – response relationship remains unclear . Objectives To examine the concurrent and prospect i ve dose – response relationships between total physical activity ( TPA ) and ( only ) walking with HRQL in two age cohorts of women . Methods Participants were 10 698 women born in 1946–1951 and 7646 born in 1921–1926 , who completed three mailed surveys for the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women 's Health . They reported weekly TPA minutes ( sum of walking , moderate and vigorous minutes ) . HRQL was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 Health Status Survey ( SF-36 ) . Linear mixed models , adjusted for socio-demographic and health-related variables , were used to examine associations between TPA level ( none , very low , low , intermediate , sufficient , high and very high ) and SF-36 scores . For women who reported walking as their only physical activity , associations between walking and SF-36 scores were also examined . Results Curvilinear trends were observed between TPA and walking with SF-36 scores . Concurrently , HRQL scores increased significantly with increasing TPA and walking , in both cohorts , with increases less marked above sufficient activity levels . Prospect ively , associations were attenuated although significant and meaningful improvements in physical functioning and vitality were observed across most TPA and walking categories above the low category . Conclusion For women in their 50s–80s without clinical depression , greater amounts of TPA are associated with better current and future HRQL , particularly physical functioning and vitality . Even if walking is their only activity , women , particularly those in their 70s–80s , have better HRQL
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 .