Physical Fitness and psychological Fitness: A Critical Analysis

The relation between physical fitness and psychological health has increasingly come under the spotlight over recent years. While the message emanating from physiological research has extolled the general advantages of exercise in terms of physical health, the equivalent psychological literature has revealed a more complex relation. The paper outlines the research evidence, focusing on the relation between physical fitness and depression, anxiety, stress responsivity, mood state, self-esteem and body image. Consideration is also given to the phenomena of fitness addiction and withdrawal, and implications for exercise prescription are discussed.