Washington: The age-old saying that a healthy body ensures a healthy mind has been bolstered by a new study.

Researchers at the University of Florida have found that physical activity provides significant emotional benefits to those who are more negative, anxious and depressed.

In the study known to analyze the relationship between exercise and emotional reactions in disabled people, the researchers found that those who scored high on neuroticism measures-those who tend to be more anxious, apprehensive and sad, lonely or dejected got much bigger emotional boosts from exercising than those who scored lower.

The study also found that the link between physical activity and mood was independent of good and bad daily events recognized to influence frame of mind, such as job performance, work and personal relationships.

The study provides a better picture of the role exercise alone plays on mood reactions. "We found that regardless of the events they experienced on any given day, they had an increased positive mood and a decreased negative mood on a day they exercised more", said Peter Giacobbi Jr, an assistant professor of sport and exercise psychology at UF's College of Health and Human Performance.

And while the benefits of exercise showed up among all personality types, the researchers were surprised at how striking the gains were among those who scored highest on measures of neuroticism. The results suggest physical activity could have profound benefits for those who tend to have more psychological or emotional difficulties.

ANI