Physical activity and mental disorders: A case–control study on attitudes, preferences and perceived barriers in Italy

Abstract

Background

Mentally ill people experience greater difficulty than the general population in exercising regularly.

Aims

We aimed to evaluate attitudes displayed and barriers perceived towards physical activity in a sample of psychiatric patients.

Methods

A total of 138 (M  =  48, F  =  90) patients attending a community mental health centre were compared with a control group made up of 138 subjects not affected by mental disorders matched for gender, mean age and education. Both groups underwent a self-administered questionnaire.

Results

Patients reported a more sedentary lifestyle in terms of weekly physical activities and daily hours of exercise; their body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher compared with the BMI of controls (p < 0.002); the mentally ill more frequently reported tiredness (p  <  0.001), scarce motivation (p  <  0.001) and the illness itself (p  =  0.01) as barriers to physical activity; moreover, stating how feeling sad or “distressed” reduced their propensity to physical exercise (p  =  0.002). A higher number of patients (p  <  0.0001) reported little or no motivation for physical activity, and the experiencing of scarce enjoyment (p  <  0.001).

Conclusions

A series of barriers may limit regular physical activity in subjects affected by mental disorders; these barriers should be taken into account and appropriately addressed.

Keywords:

• physical activity
• exercise
• mental disorders
• attitudes
• preferences
• obstacles