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Conference Agenda

Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).

Daily Overview

Session

WR3_2_4: Pitch oral & Workplace HEPA promotion group Meeting
Location: White room 3
Session Chair: Ilkka Väänänen

Presentation 2

3:43pm - 3:46pm

Physical Activity for Mental Health: Delphi-survey for national researchers and experts

Anu Kangasniemi¹, Pauliina Husu²

1: JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Finland; 2: The UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland

Purpose
As a part of the Physical activity for Mental Health -project this study aimed to explore the opinions of experts and researchers on the content and scope of the physical activity (PA) to promote mental health. Further aim was to synthesize and integrate opinions into mental‑health–supportive principles in PA practices.

Methods
A Delphi survey with two rounds was used to study opinions of national experts and researchers of the field. Participants were chosen based on their expertise and experience regarding enhancing or treating mental health through PA. On the first round the respondents (N=31) received open-ended questions on the aspects of PA for promoting and treating mental health. The responses (n=14) were synthesized and based on them the second round was provided with semi-structured questions. After the second round the final consensus was summarized.

Results
The project resulted in deeper consensus and understanding of the topic giving expert views regarding the contextual factors between PA and mental health. The results of the Delphi survey will be utilized in the promotion and treatment of mental health through PA, and in the development of educational material for health and PA practitioners.

Conclusions
The Delphi study provided deeper understanding of the opinions of experts and researchers of the relationship between PA and mental health. The results of the study focused on contextual aspects and psychosocial factors that affect the relationship between mental health and physical activity. Study will facilitate future education and practices of PA counsellors and health professionals.