The effect of regular exercise on depression, mental well-being and life satisfaction

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effect of regular exercise on depression (happiness), mental well-being, and life satisfaction. The research employed a pre-test/post-test control group experimental design. The study was conducted in 2024 in a gym in Balıkesir, Turkey, with 30 participants. During the study, a functional training method was applied to the experimental group for eight weeks, twice a week, with each session lasting one hour. Meanwhile, the control group did not perform any exercises. At the beginning of the study and after eight weeks, both the control and experimental groups were administered the "Personal Information Form, Short Form of Mental Well-Being Scale, Depression and Happiness Scale-Short Form, and Life Satisfaction Scale". According to the findings obtained in the study, the mental well-being rate increased by 42.86% in the experimental group and decreased by -3.01% in the control group; the life satisfaction rate increased by 97.20% in the experimental group and decreased by -1.41% in the control group, with a significant difference between the two groups in favor of the experimental group. In the final finding of the study, it was determined that the happiness rate increased by 22.87% in the experimental group and by 4.95% in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion, it can be stated that functional training enhances mental well-being, life satisfaction, and overall happiness.