Revista Argentina de Clínica Psicológica 2020, Vol. XXIX, N°2, 685-691 685 DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.296
INFLUENCE OF LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING ON MENTAL HEALTH AND POSITIVE SPORTS EMOTIONS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS
Bin Feng1*, Panpan Zhou1, Hang Dong2, Junpeng Wang1
Abstract Long-distance running is an effective way for college students to improve their physical health. This paper attempts to disclose the influence of long-distance running on the mental health of college students and their positive emotions for sports. Two types of college students were selected for comparative analysis: those rarely participating in long-distance running, and those running for long distance at least once a week. The data on their mental health were collected through questionnaire survey and subjected to detailed statistical analysis. The results show that college students are not frequently engaged in long-distance running; the college students that often participate in long-distance running are normal on each dimension of mental health, and have higher scores in all dimensions except quietness than those rarely engaging in long-distance running. The research results provide a practical reference for promoting college students to participate in long-distance running. Key words: Long-Distance Running, Physical Health, Positive Emotions, Mental Health. Received: 05-03-19 | Accepted: 16-09-19
INTRODUCTION improving their mental health and positive emotions; sound physical functions and healthy The mental health of college students is an psychology and emotions are interdependent important carrier for the construction of spiritual civilization. College students’ long- and the two can promote each other (Schinke, Stambulova, Si et al., 2017). From the perspective distance running includes not only the PE lessons of pedagogy, the education of long-distance and the after-school training, but also the long- running in colleges and universities has been distance running events organized for college students purposefully and designedly (Souter, groping forward, obviously, it’s quite difficult for the schools to carry out long-distance running Lewis, & Serrant, 2018). A healthy psychology activities, however, in a broad sense, the long- means that one’s body, intelligence and emotions are quite coordinated; people with distance running sports far exceeds the teaching content of school education (Gloria & healthy psychology can make compromise with Steinhardt, 2016). each other in relationships and fully exert their Long-distance running is an aerobic exercise, abilities; a healthy psychology is helpful to generate positive emotions (Joshua, Hassmén its main purpose is to strengthen one’s mental and physical health. For most college students, Dimity et al., 2016). Long-distance running is the long-distance running is mainly a small and conductive to strengthening college students’ medium-intensity exercise. While achieving the physical and physiological functions, thereby purpose of strengthening mental and physical health, they can also obtain positive 1Tianjin college, University of Science and Technology psychological emotions (Catalino & Fredrickson, Beijing, Tianjin 301830, China. 2Dalian Minzu University, Dalian 116600, China. 2011). Long-distance running can act as a E-Mail: [email protected] regulator of college students’ life style; it exerts
good effects on their body shape and functions,
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BIN FENG, PANPAN ZHOU, HANG DONG, JUNPENG WANG 686 and helps them relieve negative emotions and running, college students lack related promote the generation of positive emotions experience but they are aware of the value of (Brener, Rose, Von Hippel et al., 2013). Healthy sports exercise and can have the fun of sports psychological conditions and positive emotions during the long-distance running. Figure 1 shows can contribute to the healthy development of the motivations of college students to college students’ psychology and physiology; participate in long-distance running. From the long-distance running is an exercising method survey results we can see that, 55% of the that is most acceptable for college students to respondents participate in long-distance running strengthen their body and mind, and the to exercise and improve their health conditions; research on the influence of long-distance 22.5% of the respondents want to release running on college students’ mental health and pressure and relax the mood; 13.75% of the positive emotions for sports is of great respondents want to horn their will and quality; significance (Davies, Mallows, & Hoare, 2016; and a few respondents said that they do it for PE Shahbazzadegan, Samadzadeh, & Abbasi, 2013). exams, slimming, or bodybuilding, etc. Therefore, this paper takes college students as Most studies show that the physical quality of the subjects to explore the influence of long- current college students is declining, especially distance running on college students' mental their cardiovascular function is worsening health and positive emotions for sports. (Mastnak, 2017). The cultivation of mental health and positive emotions of college students is a long-term project. Short-term training may COLLEGE STUDENTS’ PARTICIPATION IN LONG- enhance one aspect, however, to keep long-term DISTANCE RUNNING healthy, they need to insist on participating in long-distance running (Marino, Vieno, Lenzi et al., From the perspective of college students' 2018). Figure 2 shows the frequency of college physical education, long-distance running is not a main course for college students, resulting in students' long-distance running, it can be clearly seen that 34.57% of the respondents hardly that they have certain problems in the cognition participate in long-distance running, 28.4% of of long-distance running (Rachman, Liuni, Arias et the respondents participate in long-distance al., 2017). During the teaching of long-distance
Figure 1. Motivations of college students to participate in long-distance running
13.75% 22.5% Exercise and improve health Hone one's own will quality Release pressure and relax mood Long-distance running sports test 3.75% has achieved good results 5% Weight loss, bodybuilding, etc. 55%
Figure 2. Frequency of long-distance running of college students
23.46%
28.4% Almost no participation 1-3 times a month Once a week 2-3 times a week 9.88% 3-5 times a week More than 5 times a week 2.47% 1.23%
34.57%
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INFLUENCE OF LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING ON MENTAL HEALTH AND POSITIVE SPORTS EMOTIONS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS 687 running 1-3 times per month; 23.46% of them explores the influence of long-distance running participate in long-distance running once a on college students' mental health, so the study week; and very few of them participate in long- selected college students who rarely participate distance running for 3-5 times or more than 5 in long-distance running and students who times a week. In general, in terms of the current participate in long-distance running at least once situation of college students’ participation in a week to make comparisons, and it adopted the long-distance running, the participation questionnaire survey method to calculate the frequency is relatively low. mental health data. The basic information of the subjects is shown in Table 1.
THE INFLUENCE OF LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING Research results and analysis ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF COLLEGE STUDENTS When communicating with college students who actively participate in long-distance Subjects and methods College students’ mental health is related to running, we found that their sports level has been improved greatly. As they keep running, the correct orientation of their outlook on life they feel easier and some said the discomfort and values. From the perspective of sports feeling of the body has been alleviated, they feel psychology, physical exercise can effectively relax mood and reduce anxiety, which is very relaxed, comfortable and full of strength. Figure 3 shows the average scores of the mental health helpful for cultivating people’s healthy and conditions of college students who do not positive psychology (Bhochhibhoya, Collado, Branscum et al., 2015). From the perspective of participate in long-distance running, it can be clearly seen that their scores are significantly sports medicine, active participation in long- higher than the normal level, only the phobia distance running is a means to improve dimension is within a normal range, that is, psychological problems. For college students, once psychological problem has occurred, it will college students who rarely participate in long- distance running have obvious psychological directly affect their study and physical health, in problems. severer cases, it might influence other students around them, so we must pay close attention to it. Participating in long-distance running can Figure 3. Average scores of mental health enhance the physiological function of college conditions of college students who rarely students and improve their physical fitness, participate in long-distance running especially their endurance and sports skills.
Table 1. Basic information of subjects
Type Classification Quantity Percentage Male 192 60.19% Gender Female 127 39.81% Not Male 42 37.84% participate in long- Female 69 62.16% distance running Participate in Male 150 72.12% long- distance Female 58 27.88% running
At present, due to pressures in study, job Figure 4 shows the average scores of mental hunting and interpersonal relations, college health conditions of different gender college students are highly susceptible to psychological students who rarely participate in long-distance problems, and the common dimensions of running, it can be clearly seen from the figure mental health include: somatization, obsessive- that, in terms of the somatization and the compulsive symptoms, interpersonal obsessive-compulsive symptoms dimensions, relationship sensitivity, depression, anxiety, male respondents’ mental health is in a normal hostility, phobia and paranoia. This paper
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BIN FENG, PANPAN ZHOU, HANG DONG, JUNPENG WANG 688 range, while in terms of other dimensions, their Figure 5. Average scores of mental health scores are higher than the normal values; conditions of college students who similarly, in terms of the phobia and the paranoia participate in long-distance running for a dimensions, female respondents’ mental health long time is in a normal range; moreover, it can also be seen that male students who rarely participate in long-distance running have severer anxiety, while female students show higher interpersonal relationship sensitivity.
Figure 4. Average scores of mental health conditions of different gender students who rarely participate in long-distance running
5.0 College student score College student norm 4.5
4.0
3.5 Figure 6. Average scores of mental health
3.0 conditions of different gender college Averagescore students who participate in long-distance 2.5 running for a long time 2.0 4.0 Somatization Interpersonal sensitivity College student score Obsessive-compulsive Depression Anxiety Hostility Terror Paranoia College student norm symptoms (a) Male students 3.5 6.5 College student score 6.0 College student norm 3.0 5.5
5.0 Averagescore 2.5 4.5
4.0 2.0
Averagescore 3.5 Somatization Interpersonal sensitivity 3.0 Obsessive-compulsive Depression Anxiety Hostility Terror Paranoia symptoms 2.5 (a) Male students 2.0 4.0 College student score Somatization Interpersonal sensitivity College student norm Obsessive-compulsive Depression Anxiety Hostility Terror Paranoia symptoms 3.5 (b) Female students
Figure 5 shows the average scores of the 3.0 mental health conditions of college students who participate in long-distance running for a Averagescore 2.5 long time, it can be seen that their scores are all in the normal range (except for the interpersonal 2.0 relationship sensitivity dimension). Long- distance running is helpful to improve the Somatization Interpersonal sensitivity Obsessive-compulsive Depression Anxiety Hostility Terror Paranoia psychological problems of college students. symptoms Figure 6 shows the average scores of mental (b) Female students health conditions of different gender college
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INFLUENCE OF LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING ON MENTAL HEALTH AND POSITIVE SPORTS EMOTIONS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS 689 students who participate in long-distance running for a long time, it can be clearly seen Research results and analysis that the scores of the mental health conditions Figure 7 shows the influence of long-distance of male college students who participate in long- running on the positive emotions of college distance running for a long time are all within a students. It can be clearly seen that except for normal range; while in case of female college the quiet dimension, the scores of each students, except for the interpersonal dimension of the positive emotions of college relationship sensitivity dimension, the scores of students who actively participate in long- other dimensions are all within a normal range. distance running are all higher than those of the control group, wherein, in terms of the leisure dimension, cheerful dimension, and the THE INFLUENCE OF LONG-DISTANCE RUNNING energetic dimension, there are significant ON COLLEGE STUDENTS' POSITIVE EMOTIONS differences, indicating that participating in long- Research methods distance running can yield better and more positive emotions for sports. Figure 8 is a result The long-distance running is beneficial to the analysis of the positive sports emotions in each mental health of college students. It can time period, on the whole, it appears that, for stimulate their positive emotions for sports, which would guide them to make correct choice, college students who do not participate in long- distance running, the scores of each dimension judgement and decisions. From the perspective of positive sports emotions are basically equal; of psychology, emotion is an important factor affecting the mental health of college students. while for college students who participate in long-distance running for a long time, there are Positive sports emotions can drive college differences in the scores of different time students to exhibit more positive mental health periods, that is, insisting on long-distance behaviors. Positive sports emotions mainly consist of subjective experience, external running could lead to increase in the relaxed, the energetic and the self-esteem dimensions, the performance and physiological arousal, they can score of the happy dimension shows a trend of help individuals achieve self-control, and increasing first and decreasing later, but overall, different individuals may exhibit different emotions towards long-distance running. This the scores of the dimensions of positive sports emotions of college students who insist on long- section explores the influence of long-distance distance running are higher. running on the positive emotions of college students, and divides the positive emotions into several dimensions: relaxed, happy, leisure, Figure 7. Influence of long-distance running cheerful, energetic, quiet and self-esteem. The on the positive sports emotions of college questionnaire survey method and the subjective students reporting method were adopted for the research, and the college students were divided into two groups: the students who do not participate in long-distance running, and the students who often participate in long-distance running; the basic information of the questionnaire is shown as Table 2. The survey was conducted in four stages (respectively marked as T1, T2, T3 and T4), T1 indicates the time of the first survey, and T2, T3, and T4 indicate 30d, 60d, and 90d from the first survey, respectively.
Table 2. Basic information of the questionnaire
Group T1 T2 T3 T4 Total Experience group 52 52 52 52 208 Control group 37 37 37 37 148
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Figure 8. Positive sports emotions of college students in each time period
5.5 5.5 Experience group Experience group Control group 5.0 Control group 5.0 4.5 4.5 4.0 4.0 3.5 3.5 3.0 3.0 2.5 2.5
Averagescore 2.0 Averagescore 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 (a) Relaxed (b) Happy
18 12 Experience group Experience group Control group Control group 16 10
14 8
12 6
10 Averagescore Averagescore 4
8 2 6 0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T1 T2 T3 T4 (c) Leisure (d)Energetic
CONCLUSIONS mental health conditions are within a normal range; for female students, except for the This paper took college students as the dimension of interpersonal sensitivity, other subjects to explore the influence of long- distance running on college students' mental dimensions are all within a normal range. health and positive emotions. The specific (3) In terms of the positive sports dimensions, except for the quiet dimension, other conclusions are as follows: dimensions of positive sports emotions of (1) College students participate in long- distance running in order to exercise their body, college students who actively participate in long- distance running are all higher than those who improve the health conditions, release stress, do not participate in long-distance running, and relax the mood; the proportion of college wherein the leisure, cheerful and energetic students participating in long-distance running is only 65.43%, and the frequency of long-distance dimensions show significant differences. running is relatively low.
(2) Compared with college students who Acknowledgement insist on long-term long-distance running, those who do not participate in long-distance running Research title: Research on constrcting a have more obvious psychological problems, and scientific exercise weight-reducing system among long-distance running is helpful to improve the Adolescent in Tianjin Under the background of the psychological problems of college students. For national Strategy on Public Fitness. This research is male students who participate in long-distance hold by Tianjin for Social Sciences Research running, the scores of all dimensions of their 2019(TJTYQN19-001).
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