Summary: Researchers report exercise helps improve overall health and mental health.
Source: Kobe University.
Regular exercise among Japanese residents in Malaysia was associated with less time spent sitting and higher health-related quality of life, including better mental health. The study was published in Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine and was led by Associate Professor Kazuhiro P. Izawa (Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe University) and Professor Koichiro Oka (Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University).
Extensive research has shown that physical activity—such as exercise and sports—can prevent or reduce risks for conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers. Conversely, prolonged sedentary behavior is linked to negative health outcomes such as weight gain, metabolic dysfunction, and increased cardiovascular risk. This study examined how exercise habits relate to sedentary time and mental health among Japanese people living overseas, focusing specifically on residents in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.
Malaysia is a popular long-stay destination for Japanese citizens and faces rising public health challenges, including high rates of obesity, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes. Moving abroad can disrupt daily routines, introduce stress, and alter habits that support physical and mental well-being. The research team therefore investigated whether exercise behavior among Japanese expatriates correlated with daily sitting time and measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), particularly the mental component.
The cross-sectional survey targeted 130 Japanese adults aged 20 and older residing in Ipoh. Participants completed questionnaires reporting their exercise behavior, daily sedentary time, and HRQOL, as well as basic sociodemographic information such as age, sex, and employment status. Based on the transtheoretical model of behavior change, participants were categorized into three groups: non-exercise (not exercising currently), preparation (exercising intermittently but not regularly), and exercise (engaging in regular exercise).
Of the 130 people contacted, 108 returned valid responses. The researchers measured sitting behavior time for workdays, non-workdays, and total days, and assessed the mental component of HRQOL using the Japanese version of the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Statistical analyses adjusted results for sociodemographic factors to account for differences in age, sex, and employment status.
After adjustment, the exercise group reported significantly less sitting time and higher scores on the mental health-related quality of life measure than the preparation group. On average, participants in the exercise group spent approximately 135 fewer minutes sitting per day compared with the preparation group, and they scored about 5.5 points higher on the mental component summary of HRQOL. Differences were observed across workday, non-workday, and total-day sedentary times, indicating consistent associations between regular exercise and lower sedentary behavior.
Associate Professor Izawa commented that these findings suggest encouraging exercise among Japanese residents overseas could be an effective public health approach to reduce sedentary time and enhance quality of life. The authors emphasize the importance of promoting regular physical activity as a strategy to support both physical and mental well-being in expatriate populations. The research team plans to extend their work by comparing exercise behavior and related health outcomes between Japanese people living overseas and those living in Japan.
Funding: This study was supported by the Japanese Association for the Promotion of Rehabilitation and by grants from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Source: Kobe University.
Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com. Image source noted as public domain where applicable.
Original Research: Open-access research titled “Sedentary Behavior and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Japanese Living Overseas” by Kazuhiro P. Izawa and Koichiro Oka, published in Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine in October 2018. doi: 10.1177/2333721418808117
Abstract
Sedentary Behavior and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Japanese Living Overseas
This study evaluated differences in sitting behavior time (SBT) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Japanese residents abroad by applying the transtheoretical model (TTM) to exercise behavior. SBT, HRQOL, and sociodemographic factors were measured for 108 Japanese adults living in Ipoh, Malaysia. Participants were categorized into non-exercise (NE), preparation (P), and exercise (E) groups. Self-reported questionnaires identified workday, non-workday, and total-day SBTs, and the mental component summary (MCS) score of HRQOL was assessed using the Japanese version of the SF-36. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and subsequent adjustments for sociodemographic factors revealed significant differences: the exercise group had lower non-workday and total-day sitting times and higher MCS scores compared with the preparation group. These results suggest that promoting exercise among expatriate Japanese may reduce sedentary time and improve mental health-related quality of life, supporting the development of targeted public health strategies for overseas-dwelling populations.
MLA: Kobe University. “Lack of Exercise Impacts Mental Health.” NeuroscienceNews, November 12, 2018.
APA: Kobe University (2018, November 12). Lack of Exercise Impacts Mental Health. NeuroscienceNews.
Chicago: Kobe University. “Lack of Exercise Impacts Mental Health.” NeuroscienceNews, November 12, 2018.