PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to understand the risk factors associated with poor mental health, along with insufficient Physical Activity (PA) levels, with the aim of understanding if there is a correlation between the two. The overarching aim of this study is to aid future individuals that suffer from a Cardiac Event (CE). By investigating the PA patterns in CE sufferers, there is the aim of understanding further the negative connotations that inadequate PA levels may have upon an individual’s mental and physical wellbeing Post-CE.
METHODS: The participants for this study were aged between 18-65 years (M= 31.15, SD= 13.43), that have previously suffered from a CE. A Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form were provided to them prior to the study’s completion. Participants then completed questionnaires on Microsoft Forms documents, named ‘Mood Status and Physical Activity Level upon Health Status After a Cardiac Event’ and ‘Mood Status and Physical Activity Level upon Health Status After a Cardiac Event PART 2’. Within these Forms were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) (Part 1) and Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire (Part 2) both prior to and after their CE.
RESULTS: Average Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) scores before CE (M= 125.25, SD= 32.60) were higher than TMD scores Post-CE (M= 118.88, SD= 31.24). A Paired-Samples T-Test indicated this difference, 10.38, was not statistically significant, t(7)=0.71, p=0.750. Total MET-min/week scores were compared Pre and Post- CE. On average Total MET-min/week scores before CE (M= 17768.50, SD= 15232.53) were higher than Total MET-min/week scores Post-CE (M= 5165.25, SD= 5418.73). A Paired-Samples T-Test indicated this difference, 12603.25, was not statistically significant, t(7)= 2.978, p=0.990. Following a Shapiro-Wilk test of normality, not all data for both variables upon the comparison of Total MET-Minute/week Pre- and Post-CE were normally distributed (p < .05), therefore a Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation non-parametric test was conducted in place of Pearson’s Correlation. There was a significant very strong positive correlation (Figure 2) between Pre- and Post-test MET (rs(8) = .905, p = .002). This was the only strong positive correlation.
CONCLUSION: Whilst the null hypothesis was accepted due to the results, findings within literature suggest that PA after a CE has a positive effect upon an individual’s Mood Status, and, individuals that have suffered from a CE should be encouraged to partake in Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR), due to CR being associated with reductions of depression, with Milani and Lavie (2007) stating that mild increases in PA can have a beneficial effect. Following a CE and the termination of CR, individuals should partake in even mild levels of PA in order to improve Mood Status and control Total Mood Disturbance (TMD). This may reduce the likelihood of depressive symptoms in CE sufferers, and therefore reduce the possibility of another CE occurring, in addition to lowering the morbidity for the individual (Elliot, 2010). Further research should be carried out in order to further evaluate the relationship between PA and Mood status, in the interest of improving knowledge upon the relationship between the two after a CE, and how it can aid future CE sufferers.
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