The relationship between emotional states and mental well-being in men: mediating effect of leisure-time physical activity
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY, vol.17, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 17
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1794057
- Journal Name: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
- Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, Linguistic Bibliography, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Psycinfo, Directory of Open Access Journals, MLA International Bibliography
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Istanbul University Affiliated: No
Abstract
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 (beta = -0.020; 95% CI [-0.046, -0.005]) and between anxiety and mental well-being (beta = -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.