Running head: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REDUCES STRESS

Physical Activity Reduces Stress

Alyssa Markowski, Brooke Barron, Katrina Galvan, Megan Ortega
University of North Florida

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REDUCES STRESS

Introduction
Stress is extremely prevalent disease on college campuses. This disease is
inevitable part of life. College can be a very stressful time with exams, papers, and
pressures from the student body. Physical activity can be beneficial for lowering stress
levels in a persons life (Barney, Benham, and Haslem, 2014). Stress is an emotional
strain due to very demanding circumstances. Exercise can reduce the risk of stress-related
behaviors among not only adults but in college students as well. Physical activity
increases overall health and sense of well-being in all aspects of life. Research has shown
a substantial decrease in physical activity from adolescents to adulthood (Nelson and
VanKim, 2013). The purpose of this study is to investigate students perception on the
relation between physical activity and stress-related behaviors.
Regular physical activity should be a routine in a students college career.
Numerous studies have shown that exercising has had effect of the quality of life, having
a positive attitude towards work, and help better cope with daily stress (Mavric,
Kahrovic, Muric, and Radenkovic, 2014). It is impossible to eliminate all stress from a
daily lifestyle, but exercising will help manage stress. Having a stressful lifestyle can
wear down regular bodily functions. High blood pressure and high glucose levels have
been associated with stress (Rodrigues Moreira, Carvalho da Cruz, Cordeiro Diniz,
Albuquerque, Lima, Oliveria Carvalho, and Pereira Goncalves (2013). Physical activity
reduces these levels as well as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Exercising does not always include going to the gym. Any type of physical
activity can reduce stress. Walking from class to class, walking to the parking lot, and

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY REDUCES STRESS

taking the stairs instead of using the elevators are all ways to exercise to reduce stress. In
regards to a daily lifestyle, it might be hard to coordinate time into a hectic schedule for
exercising. Stress can be induced by a non-balanced work and school schedule
(Leininger, Orozco, and Adams, 2014). While schedules fluctuate by student from
student, so does the definition of stress. There is no definite definition on what stress is
(Stults-Kolehmainen and Sinha, 2014).The purpose of this study is to understand the
individuals perception of what exercise they do in correlation by their own stress levels.