Introduction and Methods Section

The Effects of Exercise on Stress Levels

Paxton Kocher

University of Iowa

Introduction

            Exercise has always been regarded as a way to blow off steam, let out emotion, or forget about a hard day’s work. Time in the gym is routine for many people, and it has been proven to keep people healthy. However, time in the gym is not just about physical results. Research has suggested that working out is a way to ease stress and anxiety, but the question that needs to be asked is, how effective is it?

            Multitudes of studies about the correlations between stress and working out have been performed over the years. Many of them point to how regular exercise reduces reported stress. The first way stress is suggested to be relieved from exercise is due the positive emotions that are created. A 2014 study on the impacts of physical activity on stress concluded, “engaging in physical exercise seemed to alleviate perceived stress after finishing exercise due to positive emotion” (Kim & Mackenzie). Additionally, this study noted that when people choose to engage in an aerobic activity, it is conducive to lowering perceived stress (Kim & Mackenzie, 2014). One 2012 study suggested otherwise, stating that, “no significant association between regular physical activity and stress management exists” (Wilson-Salandy & Nies, p. 6). However, they noted that the major cause of this disparity from other studies was a small sample size of participants that did not accurately represent a wide range of people.

            Another key finding that researches have determined are the positive physical benefits of exercise. These include both brain chemical release, as well as cardiovascular health. A Harvard Health article noted that “It [exercise] raises levels of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that are the body's natural painkillers and mood elevators” (2018).  Additionally, Harvard Health suggested that exercise can “reduce blood pressure and decrease cholesterol” (2018). However, some studies find that purely aerobic exercises are not incredibly helpful in changing vascular response (Ray & Carter, 2010). This anomaly was also dispelled by a narrow demographic. Aerobic exercise does help relieve stress to some degree, but it is not the most effective form of stress relief in exercise. A 2014 study revealed that “Cardiovascular fitness is a frequently used strategy to reduce stress. However, our findings suggest that is it less effective than other methods” (Baghurst & Kelly, p. 444).

 The brain also works in a way where more stress means less exercise, and therefore less exercise means more stress. A 2017 study on the relationship between stress and exercise implied that “the brain works in a way so that less exercise is a side effect of more stress” (Burg, Schwartz, Kronish, Diaz, & Davidson).  They found that “22 percent of individuals who felt stress the night before were less likely to work out” (pg 799).

The research on the correlation between stress and working out is extensive. Findings reveal time and time again that working out is a good way to release positive brain chemicals, positive emotions, and reduce stressful responses. However, there are a minority of studies that exist that look at the relationship of working out and stress in the college atmosphere. This research will delve deeper into the relationship between working out and stress reduction within the incredibly stressful environment of college, specifically amongst college students.

Methods

Participants

            The participants of this survey were college students from colleges including but not limited to: The University of Iowa, Pepperdine, Iowa State University, and the University of Illinois. Most of these students were aged 18-21 years of age and had a variety of majors including but not limited to: Business, biomedical engineering, advertising, exercise science, and biology.

Procedures

            This was a seven-question online survey. This survey included questions about the students’ age, study habits, class difficulty, and workout habits. The workout questions included frequency of workouts as well as workout length. The questions given were open ended, yes or no, or answering on a scale. Another aspect worth noting is that this survey was given with a guarantee of anonymity, although the participants were encouraged to answer with integrity.

Data Analysis

            The participants’ answers were grouped based on the frequency of workouts, length of workouts, and levels of reported stress. Class difficulty and amount of homework per night will also be taken into consideration. With this information, graphs and tables will be made in an effort to discern any relationships between these variables.