KPE 120 Mental Health in Sport: Module 8 and Ch. 13

components of the 2 continua model of mental illness

• mental illness: health condition that alters thinking, mood, or behaviour due to distress/impaired functioning

• mental health: state of wellbeing where individual realizes personal potential, cope w/ normal stressors of life, work productively and fruitfully, and able to make a contribution to the community

2 continua model of mental illness

• relates the 2 distinct dimensions

• presence or absence of mental health → presence or absence of mental illness

• allows possibility of having a diagnosis of mental illness while working towards mental health

• implies that mental health problems can affect us w/o being a diagnosed condition

4 functions of physical activity in enhancing mental health

1. cost-effective alternative

2. physical activity is associated with negligible deterious side effects

3. improves physical health

4. develops population-based promotion, prevention, and intervention strategies

problems with medications and therapy

• delayed therapeutic onset

• limited efficacy in milder depression

• existence of treatment-resistant depression

• adherence is low due to side effect concerns and growing dependency

• therapy can be expensive and inaccessible

• accessing effective treatment takes time

mechanisms for change in the exercise and mental health relationship

1. biological mechanisms

2. psychological mechanisms

biological mechanisms

• endorphin hypothesis

• neurotrophins hypothesis

• monoamine hypothesis

endorphin hypothesis

known as beta endorphins, mimics chemical structure of morphine

• enhances mood effects following exercise

• regulates emotion and pain, producing a feeling of euphoria

neurotrophins hypothesis

brain derives neurotrophic factors, a chemical that plays important roles in developmental and adult brain plasticity

• low levels of neurotrophins are associated with mental disorders

• exercise acts as an antidepressant and improves cognition because it develops neural pathways

monoamine hypothesis

neurotransmitters involved in pathogenesis of severe disorders and include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin

psychological mechanisms

• mastery hypothesis

• social interactions hypothesis

• process approach

• distraction hypothesis

mastery hypothesis

a person’s perception of ability to perform an exercise affects their emotions

• also known as self-efficacy

social interaction hypothesis

provides opportunity for individual to interact with others

• evidently more enjoyment in exercising within social settings

process approach

conceptual framework, addresses complexity of the self-determination theory (competence, autonomy, relatedness)

• factors can only be satisfied if the person has integrity and wellbeing

• related to the medicine wheel teachings of balance between physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional being

distraction hypothesis

exercise distracts from daily life

• take time out from daily routine activities are responsible for improvements of mental health