The researchers conducted an experiment with 100 volunteers who rarely played sports. They first assessed depression, rumination, and activity levels. Then they showed them a sad clip from the movie and they split into two groups: one did physical exercises, the other rested. Finally, everyone filled out the questionnaires again and talked about their thoughts during the activity or rest.
After watching the movie, it became clear that physical exercises did not improve the mood of the volunteers, but only increased their enthusiasm and vitality. However, in thinking-prone people, physical activity caused more negative thoughts and memories.
The scientists speculated that this might be due to the lab sessions being involuntary and stressful for them. They noted that more research is needed to find out which types of physical activity may be beneficial or harmful for people with depression.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
