TIEMPO LIBRE CON ACTIVIDADES FÍSICAS RELACIONADAS CON INDICADORES DE SALUD MENTAL

Abstract

While the majority of the population is affected by threats to their physical and mental health caused by sedentary lifestyle, partly due to the decrease in physical activity at work, transportation systems, consumption of high calorie foods, drug abuse, and technology use, multiple empirical studies have shown a positive relationship between physical activity and the use of free time in sports, with indicators of mental health in populations of diverse nationalities, occupations, ages and genders. Thus, it has been measured through the corresponding scales that the use of leisure time in physical activities and regular practice of sports, effectively contribute to reducing anxiety, depression and stress, as well as improving cognitive abilities, social skills, self concept, resilience and coping strategies. In order to systematize the data, concepts and explanations of the research carried out on the relationship between physical activities done in people´s free time and indicators of mental health, a bibliographic and documentary review was conducted. It is concluded that sports practice and physical activity be promoted in people´s free time as thy promote progress both therapeutically and preventively, thus constituting the foundations for appropriate lifestyles for all ages, genders and occupations.