Insufficient physical activity among women is detrimentally affecting their mental well-being, as revealed by the largest global study on the exercise gender gap. The study, commissioned by ASICS and involving nearly 25,000 participants along with 26 focus groups worldwide, underscores a direct correlation between women's activity levels and their emotional states.
Findings indicate that regular exercise significantly enhances women's overall happiness by 52%, confidence by 48%, and energy levels by 50%, contrasting with periods of inactivity. Moreover, exercise proves instrumental in aiding women to manage negative emotions more effectively, with reports indicating a 67% decrease in stress and an 80% decrease in frustration when exercising regularly.
Despite these benefits, women encounter obstacles in prioritizing self-care through physical activity. Dr. Dee Dlugonski, the lead researcher, notes that women of varying activity levels face challenges in maintaining regular exercise routines. A prominent hindrance cited by over half of the surveyed women is the scarcity of time. Specifically, competing commitments and responsibilities, such as caregiving duties, significantly impede women's ability to engage in physical activity.
Motherhood emerges as a primary factor in disrupting women's exercise habits, with over 60% attributing reduced activity levels to the demands of childbearing and child-rearing years. Gendered expectations exacerbate this issue, further limiting women's opportunities for exercise or sports participation.
Even as children grow older, maternal engagement in exercise doesn't necessarily rebound, with over half of women reporting a decline in activity levels as they age. This decline is attributed to time constraints and work commitments, highlighting how external pressures impede women's pursuit of an active lifestyle.
In recognition of the profound link between physical activity and mental well-being, ASICS is launching a special edition shoe featuring green details, the official color of mental health awareness, to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Month. For every pair of the GEL-CUMULUS 26 sold in May, ASICS pledges to donate $3 to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, supporting the organization's efforts to promote mental health awareness and support.