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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2000 Jul 1;91(4):302–306. doi: 10.1007/BF03404294

The Relationship between Physical Exercise and Distress in a National Sample of Canadians

Judith C Martin 116, Terrance J Wade 216,✉
PMCID: PMC6979640  PMID: 10986791

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical examination of the relationship between physical exercise and generalized distress within a stress process framework by examining how chronic strains, self-esteem, mastery, and social support influence this relationship. The analysis employed the 1994 wave of the National Population Health Survey consisting of a sample of 12,636 Canadians between 20 and 64 years of age. Findings suggest that physical exercise is a significant predictor of generalized distress independent of chronic strain, self-esteem and social support. However, mastery mediated the association between physical exercise and distress. Moreover, mastery moderated the relationship indicating that it is a more important resource for people who are inactive.

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