Exercising in a group would be effective in improving mental, physical and emotional health, according to the results of a study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Group training reduces stress by 26% and significantly improves quality of life, while individuals who train individually put in more effort but do not experience any significant change in their mental health.
Researchers at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in the UK conducted a study with 69 volunteers, medical students, at high risk of stress, having declared a poor quality of life. To test the effectiveness of physical exercise, participants chose to follow a sports program alone or in a group for 3 months. Every four weeks, participants responded to a survey asking them to rate their perceived stress level and quality of life in three categories: mental, physical and emotional.
Reduce stress and improve mental health
At the end of the twelve weeks, the average monthly results of their survey showed significant improvements in the three measures of the quality of life for the volunteers who undertook group physical activity: mental (12.6%), physical (24 , 8%) and emotional (26%). They also reported a 26.2% reduction in levels of stress perceived.
In comparison, lone athletes exerted themselves twice as much, but saw no significant change except in mental quality of life (11% increase).
“The common benefits of doing something difficult with friends or colleagues, while encouraging one another, offers rewards beyond sport,” concludes Dayna Yorks, author of this study.
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