Exploring the impact of physical activity on resilience: A longitudinal analysis in Japanese adults

Recently, the role of physical activity in enhancing resilience has garnered increasing attention. Resilience describes the personal characteristics that influence psychological recovery and adaptation to stress. This study examined the relationships between various domains of physical activity and resilience in Japanese adults by analyzing panel data from five waves, gathered at 3-month intervals over a year. The study included 579 Japanese adults, with an average age of 46.4 years (SD = 8.0, range = 30-59 years). Results from random effects models revealed a positive association between work-related moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and innate resilience factors. In contrast, sedentary behavior was negatively associated with these factors. Transport- and leisure-related MVPA showed positive correlations with acquired resilience factors. These findings show that the influence of physical activity on resilience may vary across different activity and resilience domains. Therefore, designing targeted interventions based on physical activity types is necessary for enhancing resilience.