Alderman, B. L., Rogers, T. J., Johnson, T. A., & Landers, D. M. (2003). A meta-analysis of exercise and stress reactivity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(5), Supplement abstract 130.

The literature was reviewed to assess the relationship between acute and chronic exercise bouts or physical fitness on reactivity to and recovery from psychosocial stressors in humans and animals.

Studies (N = 77) and effect sizes (N = 477) revealed that a significant relationship existed for both human and animal studies. No differences were found between fit and unfit participants and studies incorporating an exercise intervention.

Implication. Habitual exercise or single exercise bouts reduce psychophysiological reactivity to stresses.

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