Sport NZ media release: 11th October 2018

New research from Sport New Zealand shows that physically active Kiwis are more likely to have good mental health said Minister for Sport and Recreation, Grant Robertson today.

The research shows that Kiwis who meet the global physical activity recommendations of at least 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity a week are 51 percent more likely to have healthy mental wellbeing. 

“These findings are particularly important this week as we focus our collective attention on mental wellbeing for Mental Health Awareness Week,” Grant Robertson said. 

“The association between physical activity and mental wellbeing is emerging internationally. We now have New Zealand-based data that adds compelling evidence to the global picture. 

“It’s time as a country that we look seriously at the contribution physical activity makes to improved wellbeing. Sport and active recreation are not only one of the most cost-effective ways of supporting mental health, but as we continue to understand its impacts, the research is showing it’s one of the most powerful approaches for reducing and preventing mental distress. 

“We want to see New Zealanders being active both because they enjoy it, and because they understand how it can improve their lives,” Grant Robertson said. 

A review of international literature submitted to the New Zealand Government Inquiry into Mental Health showed that physical activity reduces the chance of experiencing depression by 10 percent in children (5-18 years), 22 percent in adults (18-64 years) and 21 percent in older adults (65+ years). 

“Previously, there has been very little work done on physical activity from a mental health perspective. Traditionally, we have looked at the physical benefits of being active, but this is one of the first analyses to really explore different qualities of physical activity when considering mental wellbeing, and it’s shown that it deserves more attention,” said Grant Robertson. 

An in-depth analysis of Active NZ data, the first study of its kind which surveyed more than 25,000 New Zealanders, uncovered new information about the association between mental wellbeing and the ‘dose’ of recreational physical activity. 

“How long people are active for, how often they are active, and the intensity and type of activity they are doing, is associated with mental wellbeing”, said Sport NZ Senior Evaluation Advisor, Justin Richards. 

“This research shows that it’s vitally important that we continue to do at least 2.5 hours of physical activity spread throughout the week – the benefits are measurable. We observed a 24 percent jump in the odds of mental wellbeing when people increased their activity from two to three days a week, and if people were active on four or five days of the week the odds continued to improve. We saw similar patterns as people stepped up the duration and the intensity of the activity they do”, said Richards.

Find out more about the findings of Active NZ research into physical activity and mental wellbeing.