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University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Health. The high job stress and low levels of physical activity experienced by academics may increase their risk of mental disorders and cardiometabolic disease. Concurrent resistance and endurance training (CT) can improve risk markers related to mental disorders and cardiometabolic disease, but has not been evaluated in academics, wherein longer work hours and higher stress may act as barriers to exercise participation. This thesis initially involved a cross-sectional assessment of the mental and cardiometabolic health of inactive academics, followed by a randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effects of 14-weeks of CT on risk markers of mental disorders and cardiometabolic disease in inactive academics. Results showed a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in inactive academics, alongside an effort-reward imbalance (ERI; representing high job-stress) which was associated with greater symptoms of depression. CT resulted in a decrease in symptoms of depression without change in ERI. There was an increase in lean mass and aerobic capacity and a decrease in total and central fat mass. There were no changes to systemic inflammation, insulin resistance or symptoms of stress or anxiety. These findings support the use of CT to improve both cardiometabolic and mental health in inactive academics. |
