Psychological effects of physical activity: A quasi-experiment in an indigenous community

Objectives: In addition to physical health benefits, being physically active or exercising can also have psychological benefits. We explored the psychological effects of an exercise intervention in this quasi-experiment. Materials and Methods: Residents in Ma-Yuan village in Wan Rung township in Hualien county, Taiwan were recruited to participate in a fitness program (n=31). Residents from the same village but geographically segregated areas served as a control group (n=44). Participants from both groups filled out a pretest questionnaire at the beginning of the intervention, and a post-test questionnaire 1 week after the conclusion of the intervention. Results: Analysis of the pre- and post-test survey data showed that after the intervention, participants in the intervention group, but not those in the control group, experienced less negative affect. In addition, participants in the intervention group had more positive attitudes toward some aspects of exercising. Conclusion: Future intervention promoting exercise or physical activity targeting indigenous people could stress the emotional benefits of exercising, as it may be more congruent with indigenous cultural values. © 2013.