Effect of exercise on life satisfaction and happiness

Pages: 79-82
Sarabjit Kaur Sran (Department of Psychology, Mata Sundri College for Women, University of Delhi, Delhi)
Poonam Vats (Department of Psychology, Mata Sundry College for Women, University of Delhi, Delhi)
Pooja Wadhawan (Department of Psychology, Mata Sundri College for Women, University of Delhi, Delhi)

Exercise reduces anxiety by diverting the attention of the individual. It is also used as a coping mechanism while dealing with stress. It reduces the stress either by changing an individual’s appraisal of a potentially stressful event by distraction. It thus may be a useful resource for combating the adverse effects of stress. Exercise buffers certain negative effects of stress and improves the immune functioning of an individual. To combat the negative emotions a lot of people resorted to health practices like Physical exercise to restore their physical and mental health and create balance and well-being. In the short term exercise induces positive mood states and in the long term regular exercise leads to greater happiness. The short-term effects of exercise are due to the fact that exercise leads to the release of endorphins, morphine-like chemical substances produced in the brain.