The relationship between emotional states and mental well-being in men: mediating effect of leisure-time physical activity

Background There is evidence that emotional states such as depression, anxiety, and stress negatively affect individuals’ mental well-being. The present study aims to examine the potential protective effect of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) in men and to provide empirical data on the roles of this variable in psychological health. Method The study group for this cross-sectional research consisted of 270 males with high physical activity level, recruited from fitness centers, with a mean age of 27.29 (±10.46) years. A three-variable mediation analysis was conducted in this research. The bootstrap method was applied to the analyses, and the statistical significance of the mediation effect was evaluated using 95% bootstrap confidence intervals. Results The results indicated that LTPA significantly mediated the relationships between depression and mental well-being ( β = −0.020; 95% CI [−0.046, −0.005]) and between anxiety and mental well-being ( β = −0.023; 95% CI [−0.052, −0.005]). However, the indirect effect of LTPA on the relationship between stress and mental well-being was not statistically significant (95% CI [−0.041, 0.018]). Conclusion In conclusion, LTPA showed a significant statistical mediating association in the relationship between depression, anxiety, and mental well-being; however, no significant mediating association was observed in the relationship involving stress. These findings indicate that LTPA offers a protective mechanism, particularly for mood disorders (depression and anxiety), but that additional interventions may be needed for stress management.