Dena Sadeghi Bahmani1, Nazanin Razazian2, Robert W Motl3, Vahid Farnia4, Mostafa Alikhani4, Uwe Pühse5, Markus Gerber5, Serge Brand6. 1. University of Basel, Psychiatric Clinics (UPK), Center of Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders (ZASS), Basel, Switzerland; Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Department of Psychiatry, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah, Iran; Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Department of Psychiatry, Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah, Iran; Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: dena.sadeghibahmani@upk.ch. 2. Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Neurology Department, Kermanshah, Iran. 3. Departments of Physical Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. 4. Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Department of Psychiatry, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah, Iran. 5. University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise, and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, Basel, Switzerland. 6. University of Basel, Psychiatric Clinics (UPK), Center of Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders (ZASS), Basel, Switzerland; Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Department of Psychiatry, Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah, Iran; Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Department of Psychiatry, Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah, Iran; University of Basel, Department of Sport, Exercise, and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, Basel, Switzerland; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) report difficulties with emotion regulation and empathy. Regular physical activity (RPA) improves dimensions of psychological well-being in PwMS, but it remains unclear if regular physical activity has effects on emotion regulation and empathy. The present study investigated the effect of regular physical activity on emotion regulation and empathy, and explored, if endurance training or coordinative training are better than an active control condition. METHODS: 92 female PwMS (mean age: 37.4 years; age range: 20-57 years; mean EDSS: 2.43) took part in this study. Participants were randomly assigned into endurance training, coordinative training, or active control conditions that all lasted 8 weeks and were yoked on frequency, duration, and social contact. Participants completed questionnaires on emotion regulation, empathy, depression and fatigue before and after the 8-week conditions. RESULTS:Regulation and control of emotions and empathy improved over time, but more so in the exercising groups, compared to the active control group. No changes over time and between groups were observed for perception and acknowledgement of emotions, emotional expressivity, and empathy, as measured with Reading in the Eyes test. These changes were not influenced by control for depression and fatigue as covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Both endurance and coordinative exercise training had favorable effects on some aspects of emotion regulation and social cognition such as empathy in PwMS. Such initial results support for examination of exercise training for the treatment of issues of emotion regulation and social interactions in PwMS.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) report difficulties with emotion regulation and empathy. Regular physical activity (RPA) improves dimensions of psychological well-being in PwMS, but it remains unclear if regular physical activity has effects on emotion regulation and empathy. The present study investigated the effect of regular physical activity on emotion regulation and empathy, and explored, if endurance training or coordinative training are better than an active control condition. METHODS: 92 female PwMS (mean age: 37.4 years; age range: 20-57 years; mean EDSS: 2.43) took part in this study. Participants were randomly assigned into endurance training, coordinative training, or active control conditions that all lasted 8 weeks and were yoked on frequency, duration, and social contact. Participants completed questionnaires on emotion regulation, empathy, depression and fatigue before and after the 8-week conditions. RESULTS: Regulation and control of emotions and empathy improved over time, but more so in the exercising groups, compared to the active control group. No changes over time and between groups were observed for perception and acknowledgement of emotions, emotional expressivity, and empathy, as measured with Reading in the Eyes test. These changes were not influenced by control for depression and fatigue as covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Both endurance and coordinative exercise training had favorable effects on some aspects of emotion regulation and social cognition such as empathy in PwMS. Such initial results support for examination of exercise training for the treatment of issues of emotion regulation and social interactions in PwMS.
Authors: Mahmoud Mohebi; Dena Sadeghi-Bahmani; Sahar Zarei; Hassan Gharayagh Zandi; Serge Brand Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-23 Impact factor: 3.390