Effects of Physical Activity on Psychological Function and Health

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Healthcare will explore the relationship between physical activity and quality of health and psychological function, which has gained significant momentum in recent years. Many individuals, organizations, and disciplines have shown keen interest in this area. Health professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers, are interested in promoting physical activity to improve overall health and well-being. They recognize the potential of regular exercise in preventing and managing chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and certain cancers. Public health organizations and advocacy groups also focus on disease prevention and health promotion through physical activity.

Mental health professionals and researchers are growing interested in the psychological benefits of physical activity. Studies have shown that exercise can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress and improve mood and overall psychological well-being. This has increased attention to exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention for mental health conditions. Athletes, coaches, and sports organizations are invested in understanding how physical activity can enhance performance. They explore the effects of different exercise modalities, training techniques, and recovery strategies on athletic performance and psychological factors such as motivation, focus, and confidence. There is also significant interest in how physical activity can support healthy aging and mitigate age-related decline in physical and cognitive functions. Researchers, healthcare professionals, and older adults are interested in exercise interventions to enhance the quality of life, functional independence, and cognitive abilities in older populations.

Workplace wellness programs incorporate physical activity components to improve employee health, productivity, and well-being. Employers recognize the importance of physical activity in reducing sedentary behavior and promoting a healthy workforce. Academic and scientific researchers across various disciplines are dedicated to advancing knowledge on the effects of physical activity. Healthcare is open to demonstrating work that contributes to evidence-based guidelines, policy changes, and the overall understanding of how physical activity impacts health and psychological function. Overall, the diverse interests in physical activity and its relationship to quality of health and psychological function reflect a shared goal of promoting healthier lifestyles, preventing chronic diseases, enhancing mental well-being, and optimizing human performance.

Dr. Bianca Miarka
Dr. Ciro José Brito
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• exercise
• emotional regulation
• quality of life
• healthcare
• cognition