Physical activity and mental wellbeing in deprived neighbourhoods

• We model the links between physical activity and mental wellbeing in deprived areas.
• We consider aspects of deprivation, long-term health, the home and neighbourhood.
• Adults who do more physical activity generally have better mental wellbeing.
• Low-wellbeing areas may benefit the most from increased physical activity.
• Employment may lead to better mental wellbeing directly and through greater physical activity.

BackgroundAlthough the links between mental wellbeing and physical activity are well established they have been little studied in deprived populations with high levels of ill-health.MethodUsing a novel combination of measures of mental wellbeing (WEMWBS) and physical activity (IPAQ), and taking a multilevel modelling approach, we examine the associations of mental wellbeing with physical activity and a set of sociodemographic, personal and residential characteristics in a cross-sectional sample of 3854 adults from 30 neighbourhoods in Glasgow, UK.ResultsThere was a significantly positive relationship between low, medium and high levels of physical activity and mental wellbeing scores, and evidence that potential mental wellbeing gains may be greater in neighbourhoods with relatively low average mental wellbeing. In addition, better mental wellbeing was independently associated with being male, young (16–24 years), in work, with more than basic educational qualifications, a home-owner, and with living in house rather than a flat.ConclusionsThere are potential benefits to mental wellbeing from boosting physical activity among residents of deprived neighbourhoods, especially those with particularly low general levels of mental wellbeing. Person-based interventions supporting physical activity might be successfully incorporated as part of urban regeneration programmes that already provide many of the social and environmental improvements required to enable increased physical activity and improved mental wellbeing. Coming into employment may boost mental wellbeing not only directly, but also indirectly through increased levels of physical activity.