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. 2000 Jul-Aug;91(4):302-6.
doi: 10.1007/BF03404294.

The relationship between physical exercise and distress in a national sample of Canadians

J C Martin  1 , T J Wade
Affiliations

The relationship between physical exercise and distress in a national sample of Canadians

J C Martin et al. Can J Public Health. 2000 Jul-Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

This paper presents an empirical examination of the relationship between physical exercise and generalized distress within a stress process framework by examining how chronic strains, self-esteem, mastery, and social support influence this relationship. The analysis employed the 1994 wave of the National Population Health Survey consisting of a sample of 12,636 Canadians between 20 and 64 years of age. Findings suggest that physical exercise is a significant predictor of generalized distress independent of chronic strain, self-esteem and social support. However, mastery mediated the association between physical exercise and distress. Moreover, mastery moderated the relationship indicating that it is a more important resource for people who are inactive.

Ce document présente une étude empirique portant sur la relation entre l’activité physique et la détresse généralisée dans le cadre d’un processus de traitement du stress au moyen d’une analyse de l’influence des douleurs et fatigues chroniques, de l’estime de soi, de la maîtrise de la situation et du soutien social sur cette relation. L’analyse a été effectuée dans le cadre de l’Enquête nationale sur la santé de la population de 1994 à l’aide d’un échantillon de 12 636 Canadiens de 20 à 64 ans. Les résultats semblent indiquer que l’activité physique est un paramètre de prévision de la détresse généralisée quel que soit les douleurs et les fatigues chroniques, l’estime de soi et le soutien social. Cependant, la maîtrise de la situation avait un effet modérateur sur le lien entre l’activité physique et la détresse. De plus, le fait que la maîtrise de soi ait un effet modérateur sur cette relation semble indiquer qu’il s’agit d’une ressource plus importante pour les gens qui sont inactifs.

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