A new study by ASICS has found new links between running and mental health – we find out all about it
We’ve been loving the research that ASICS has been doing on the connection between exercise and our mental wellbeing. Today, they’ve released the results of their latest study, the Global State of Mind Index.
What exactly is the Global State of Mind Index, you ask? It’s a first of its kind global study of 37,000 people. Through research, it assigns a State of Mind score to participants, which reflects how happy and positive they feel.
Based on previous research and our personal experience, it was no surprise to us that those in the study who moved their bodies regularly had a higher State of Mind score: 68/100, compared to 56/100 for those who described themselves as inactive.
What did surprise us was what the study revealed about how long we need to exercise for to experience the mood-boosting effects. We’re often told that 30 minutes per day is the magic number, but the study found that just 15 minutes and 9 seconds was enough to boost our mood and change our outlook.
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“At ASICS, it has long been our belief that sport has the power to uplift both an individual and the world like nothing else,” says Gary Raucher, Executive Vice President at ASICS.
“While the results of our global State of Mind Index prove just how intrinsic the link between regular movement and positive mental health is, they also show the potential impact a small amount of movement could have in raising the world’s collective State of Mind score.”
ASICS are hoping to inspire as many people as possible to do their 15 minutes and 9 seconds of regular activity. Keep an eye out for their 15:09 Challenge, starting on 1st June 2022.
