Women aren’t getting enough exercise and their mental health is suffering.
The world’s largest study on gender disparities in physical activity shows a direct link between women’s activity levels and their mental well-being.
According to the Move Her Mind study commissioned by ASICS, which surveyed approximately 25,000 people and conducted 26 focused surveys, women are more likely to be physically active when they exercise regularly than when they are not. reported feeling 52% happier, 48% more confident and 50% more energetic. groups around the world.
Researchers also found that exercise helped women deal with negative emotions more effectively, with women reporting 67% more stress and 80% more irritability when they didn’t exercise regularly. .
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But unfortunately, women have a hard time prioritizing this kind of self-care.
“Regardless of their activity level, women face barriers to being as active as they want,” lead researcher Dr. Dee Dolgonski said in the report.
More than half of the women surveyed cited not having enough time to exercise as a reason. The most common barriers were having too many other commitments (76%) and not having enough time (74%).
And children also play a big role. More than 60% of women admit that motherhood is the main reason they don’t exercise regularly, with activity levels at their lowest during childbirth and parenting.
“Many women reported experiencing gendered expectations that affected their free time for exercise and sports,” Dolgonski said.
“Caregiving roles, such as caring for children and the elderly, and other household responsibilities, are reported to be particularly salient barriers by women in both quantitative and qualitative data.”
However, mothers do not necessarily resume exercise even as their children grow older, with more than half of women saying their physical activity decreased with age. Some people have stopped completely. The two main reasons were not enough time and work, highlighting how women are forced to lead active lifestyles due to other jobs and careers.
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Highlighting the connection between movement and positive mental health, and to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Month, ASICS is launching a limited edition shoe with details in green, the official color of Mental Health Awareness. ASICS will donate $3 for every pair of her GEL-CUMULUS 26 sold in May to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization.
“At ASICS, our founding philosophy of “Healthy Mind, Healthy Body” continues to be at the center of everything we do,” said Koichiro Kodama, President and CEO of ASICS North America. stated in a press release. “The launch of the limited-edition GEL-CUMULUS® 26 shoe reminds us of the power of movement to uplift our spirits. And every shoe sold inspires change through our partner, his NAMI. I’m honored to bring it to you.”
