City Research Online

Abstract

Objective. This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of a team-based sport/psychosocial intervention (Back of the Net, BTN) with an individual exercise (IE) and a control condition for the mental health of young men.

Design. Ten-week randomized control trial and eight-week post-intervention follow-up.

Methods. A total of 104 sedentary males aged between 18 and 40 years were recruited and randomly assigned to the BTN, IE, or a control condition. The BTN programme integrated team sport (i.e., football) and cognitive-behavioural techniques. IE sessions included aerobic and resistance training. The control group refrained from exercise. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory – 2nd Edition (BDI-II), the Social Provisions Scale (SPS) and a short qualitative questionnaire at pre-intervention, week 5, post-intervention and at 8-week follow-up.

Results. Participants in both the BTN and the IE condition demonstrated a significant decrease in BDI-II scores compared to the control condition at post-intervention and at 8-week follow-up. The IE condition demonstrated significantly greater perceived social support than the BTN condition at week 5 and the control group at 8-week follow-up. Qualitative data support the main empirical findings.

Conclusion. Exercise-based interventions were effective in reducing symptoms of depression in a non-clinical community sample of young men. The BTN programme demonstrated potential for improving the mental health of young men however larger scale community-based research is warranted to further examine the effectiveness of this type of intervention.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the accepted version of the following article: McGale, N., McArdle, S. and Gaffney, P. (2011), Exploring the effectiveness of an integrated exercise/CBT intervention for young men's mental health. British Journal of Health Psychology, 16: 457–471. which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1348/135910710X522734
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Psychological Sciences
Related URLs:	Author
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

Export

Downloads