Work hard in the gym, stay cool under pressure.
The benefits of exercise have long been recognized, from improved heart health and lower risk of cancer to some surprising side effects.
One more bonus can be added to the list, and it’ll come in handy the next time you get into a big argument or find yourself seeing red.
We’ve all heard of a runner’s high and know that exercise releases endorphins to put you in a feel-good mood.
Being fit is also associated with lower anxiety and anger, as well as greater emotional resilience, according to a study published this month in the journal Acta Psychologica.
Researchers at the Federal University of Goiás in Brazil divided 40 participants into two groups: above-average and below-average fitness levels.
Then they showed them neutral images of everyday objects and unsettling images designed to trigger stress and negative emotions.
While all the participants felt tense after looking at the unsettling images, the above-average exercise group had lower levels of anxiety and anger at the start and remained calm.
Meanwhile, the below-average group saw a significantly increased risk — a 775% greater risk, in fact — of anxiety levels increasing from moderate to high.
When it came to anger, the lower fitness level group had less anger control. And the less fit someone was, the more likely they were to act on their anger after seeing the stressful images.
Researchers have an idea as to why those who are more fit experience less stress and don’t get as upset.
The key is discipline. The theory is that the discipline it takes to improve fitness translates to the mind, which builds emotional resilience and control.
Movement also releases feel-good chemicals like serotonin, endorphins and dopamine that act as natural mood boosters, pain relievers and stress reducers.
Activities like strength training have also been shown to combat and ease symptoms of depression such as feelings of worthlessness and low morale.
However, larger studies need to be done to determine if regular exercise can be an anger management tool.
