James W Whitworth1, Lynette L Craft2, Shira I Dunsiger3, Joseph T Ciccolo4. 1. Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA. 2. American College of Sports Medicine, 401 W. Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. 3. Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University and The Miriam Hospital, 167 Point Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. 4. Department of Biobehavioral Sciences, Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA. Electronic address: jc4102@tc.columbia.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence suggests that exercise may have beneficial effects on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and that this relationship may be indirectly affected by sleep, pain, and alcohol/substance use. The present study examined the longitudinal direct and indirect effects of exercise on PTSD symptoms. METHOD: A national sample of 182 individuals, screening positive for PTSD, completed online assessments of PTSD symptoms, exercise behavior, psychological distress, sleep quality, and alcohol/substance use at baseline and three-month follow-up. RESULTS: There were direct effects of strenuous intensity exercise on avoidance/numbing (b=-2.18, SE=1.12, p=0.05) and hyperarousal symptoms (b=-1.87, SE=0.82, p=0.03); and direct effects of total exercise on avoidance/numbing symptoms (b=-1.76, SE=0.94, p=0.05). Strenuous intensity exercise was indirectly associated with total PTSD symptoms (ab=-2.53, 95% CI: -5.72 to -0.38), avoidance/numbing (ab=-0.99, 95% CI: -2.43 to -0.05), and hyperarousal symptoms (ab=-0.78, 95% CI: -1.88 to -0.07) through sleep, while total exercise was indirectly associated with total PTSD symptoms through alcohol use (ab=0.32, 95% CI: 0.18-1.42). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that exercise has a complex, longitudinal, and beneficial association with PTSD symptoms. Future studies should continue to examine this relationship and any direct and indirect effects exercise may have on PTSD and its related conditions.
OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence suggests that exercise may have beneficial effects on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and that this relationship may be indirectly affected by sleep, pain, and alcohol/substance use. The present study examined the longitudinal direct and indirect effects of exercise on PTSD symptoms. METHOD: A national sample of 182 individuals, screening positive for PTSD, completed online assessments of PTSD symptoms, exercise behavior, psychological distress, sleep quality, and alcohol/substance use at baseline and three-month follow-up. RESULTS: There were direct effects of strenuous intensity exercise on avoidance/numbing (b=-2.18, SE=1.12, p=0.05) and hyperarousal symptoms (b=-1.87, SE=0.82, p=0.03); and direct effects of total exercise on avoidance/numbing symptoms (b=-1.76, SE=0.94, p=0.05). Strenuous intensity exercise was indirectly associated with total PTSD symptoms (ab=-2.53, 95% CI: -5.72 to -0.38), avoidance/numbing (ab=-0.99, 95% CI: -2.43 to -0.05), and hyperarousal symptoms (ab=-0.78, 95% CI: -1.88 to -0.07) through sleep, while total exercise was indirectly associated with total PTSD symptoms through alcohol use (ab=0.32, 95% CI: 0.18-1.42). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that exercise has a complex, longitudinal, and beneficial association with PTSD symptoms. Future studies should continue to examine this relationship and any direct and indirect effects exercise may have on PTSD and its related conditions.
Authors: Katherine S Hall; Miriam C Morey; Hayden B Bosworth; Jean C Beckham; Michelle M Pebole; Richard Sloane; Carl F Pieper Journal: J Behav Med Date: 2019-07-01
Authors: James W Whitworth; Scott M Hayes; Ryan J Andrews; Jennifer R Fonda; Brigitta M Beck; Lilly B Hanlon; Catherine B Fortier; William P Milberg; Regina E McGlinchey Journal: Mil Med Date: 2020-06-08 Impact factor: 1.437