TY - JOUR
T1 - Association between physical fitness and psychological distress among Brazilian armed force personnel
AU - Oliveira, Aldair J.
AU - Neto, Geraldo A.Maranhão
AU - Barros, Osmar D.
AU - Pedreiro, Rodrigo
AU - Murillo-Rodriguez, Eric
AU - de Leon, Antônio Carlos Ponce
AU - Machado, Sergio
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Springer-Verlag Italia S.r.l., part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2019/4/1
Y1 - 2019/4/1
N2 - Previous research suggests that physical fitness moderates the adverse effects of stressful life events. However, the relation between fitness and psychological distress needs to be explored, especially in armed force personnel. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical fitness and psychological distress among Brazilian armed force personnel. In this cross-sectional study, we measured physical fitness and psychological distress of 1252 subjects, using, respectively, field tests and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). After adjusting for confounders, statistically significant direct associations (p < 0.05) between physical fitness and psychological distress were found. Low levels of muscle endurance (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.2–2.3) and combined cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle endurance (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.2–3.0) were associated with greater psychological distress in the overall sample. In the operational group, low levels of muscle endurance (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.2–2.8), cardiorespiratory fitness (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.2–3.6) and combined cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle endurance (OR 2.70; 95% CI 1.4–5.1) were also associated with greater psychological distress. On the other hand, no significant (p > 0.05) association was found for the non-operational group. Low levels of physical fitness were associated with greater psychological distress among armed force personnel, especially among those with operational status. These findings suggest that physical fitness is not only relevant for military functions but also for mental health.
AB - Previous research suggests that physical fitness moderates the adverse effects of stressful life events. However, the relation between fitness and psychological distress needs to be explored, especially in armed force personnel. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical fitness and psychological distress among Brazilian armed force personnel. In this cross-sectional study, we measured physical fitness and psychological distress of 1252 subjects, using, respectively, field tests and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). After adjusting for confounders, statistically significant direct associations (p < 0.05) between physical fitness and psychological distress were found. Low levels of muscle endurance (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.2–2.3) and combined cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle endurance (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.2–3.0) were associated with greater psychological distress in the overall sample. In the operational group, low levels of muscle endurance (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.2–2.8), cardiorespiratory fitness (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.2–3.6) and combined cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle endurance (OR 2.70; 95% CI 1.4–5.1) were also associated with greater psychological distress. On the other hand, no significant (p > 0.05) association was found for the non-operational group. Low levels of physical fitness were associated with greater psychological distress among armed force personnel, especially among those with operational status. These findings suggest that physical fitness is not only relevant for military functions but also for mental health.
KW - Cardiorespiratory fitness
KW - Common mental disorders
KW - Mental health
KW - Military personnel
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85054417966&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11332-018-0503-9
DO - 10.1007/s11332-018-0503-9
M3 - Artículo
AN - SCOPUS:85054417966
SN - 1824-7490
VL - 15
SP - 141
EP - 147
JO - Sport Sciences for Health
JF - Sport Sciences for Health
IS - 1
ER -