A relação pessoa-ambiente: a prática de exercícios e atividades físicas para saúde mental

Abstract

Mental disorders, poor quality of life, and environmental degradation have increased exponentially in cities. Studies have shown that contact with nature can make us happier and healthier, as well as contribute to meaningful urban lives. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between urban green areas and the practice of exercises and physical activities for the mental health of the population, focusing on the person-environment relationship. The work seeks to question: What are the benefits of urban green areas on the population’s mental health? How’s the mental health of practitioners of physical activities in Parque do Povo, practitioners of exercises in gyms, and sedentary people? Is practicing physical activity in Parque Povo better for the mental health of its goers than exercising in an indoor gym? The adopted hypothesis is that there is a positive correlation between urban green areas and mental health in the group of practitioners of exercises at the gym and physical activities in urban green areas, compared to the group of sedentary people. This is an applied research, descriptive and quantitative of cross-sectional character. The sample consisted of 60 participants, being 20 practitioners of physical activities in Parque do Povo, 20 practitioners of physical exercises in gyms, and 20 non-practitioners of physical activities and exercises. The participants were assessed using a questionnaire and the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Subjective Well-Being Scale. The study found that no statistical differences were observed among the groups on the Perceived Stress and Subjective Well-Being Scales. In the anxiety scale, a significant association was observed between the practice of exercises in gyms and physical activities, since non-practitioners showed statistically higher distributions of proportions of severe and moderate anxiety. Regarding the genders, they showed significant differences related to the anxiety score. The marital status of married or in a stable relationship differed from those who were single/widowed/divorced in relation to the depression score, however depression scores did not differ between the three groups. The study concluded that the mental health of the urban population is associated with the practice of physical activities in urban green areas and exercises in gyms, therefore providing green areas and places for the population to practice activities and physical exercises contributes to mental health and preservation of the environment.