The Comparison of Mental Health, Happiness and Personal Well-being between Middle-aged Women with Regular, Irregular Aerobic Activity and Inactive Women

The aim of this study was to compare the mental health, happiness and well-being in middle-aged women with regular, irregular aerobic activity and inactive women. 200 women selected from women referred to home health centers. 75 of them had regular aerobic activity, 74 had irregular aerobic activity and 51 was inactive women. Subjects are asked to complete GHQ, Oxford Happiness Inventory and well-being questionnaire. ANOVA and Tokay test was used to analyze the data. Results showed inactive middle-aged women have more anxiety, somatic symptoms and depression than middle-aged women with regular and irregular aerobic activity (P<0.05). Also results showed no significant difference between women with regular and irregular aerobic activity in mental health, happiness and well-being. On the other hand aerobic activity in any situation, especially in leisure time can improve the mental health in middle-aged women. In this research, the significant difference in mental health, happiness and well-being between women with regular and irregular aerobic activity and inactive women indicates the important impact of aerobic activity, as one of the preventive factors of mental disorders in women as well as assets for helping them to adjust with stressors.