Harnessing Physical Activity to Prevent Mental Health Issues in the Age of Digital Stress

The intersection of mental health and digital technology is becoming an increasingly significant area of research as digital stress emerges as a new public health challenge. Escalating screen time, pervasive social media engagement, and pressure from digital environments are linked to rising rates of anxiety, chronic stress, depressive symptoms, and sleep disorders. These trends have generated pressing questions about how to counteract the psychological burdens of digitalization using accessible, preventive strategies. Recent evidence highlights the benefits of regular physical exercise, not only as an adjunct to psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, but as a primary preventive tool that can reduce the risk of developing mental health disorders in vulnerable populations. The latest studies reveal promising neurobiological mechanisms, such as enhanced neurogenesis, regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, all of which may underlie exercise’s mental health benefits. However, despite increasing recognition of exercise’s efficacy, substantial knowledge gaps remain, including how best to integrate exercise into preventive and clinical strategies, the most effective exercise modalities, and how to overcome barriers to sustained engagement, especially in urbanized, digitally saturated populations.This Research Topic aims to deepen the understanding of how physical exercise can function as an effective preventive intervention against mental health issues exacerbated by digital stress. It seeks to clarify the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms linking exercise and mental well-being, compare exercise with other standard interventions, and explore practical strategies to increase adherence to physical activity. Specific goals include evaluating which types of exercise are most beneficial, investigating their role in emotional regulation and stress reduction, and identifying scalable, community-based models for exercise promotion in the context of digital stress. Ultimately, this research aims to inform public health policies and clinical guidelines for the prevention of mental health problems in contemporary society.To gather further insights in the boundaries of preventive mental health interventions related to digital stress, this Research Topic welcomes articles of all types addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Neurobiological pathways linking exercise and mental health (e.g., BDNF, neurogenesis, HPA axis modulation)• Direct comparisons of physical exercise with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in mild and moderate mental health conditions• The role of exercise in emotional regulation and alleviation of digital anxiety• Assessment of barriers and facilitators to adherence in urban and digitally active populations• Development and efficacy of clinic- and community-based exercise prescription programs for mental health professionals• Evaluation of exercise interventions tailored to youth, adults, or elderly populations particularly impacted by digital stress• Implementation science and policy initiatives to scale low-cost exercise-based mental health preventionAppendix: We invite submissions including original research, reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials, perspective and opinion articles, and case studies. Topic editors: Saulo Vasconcelos Rocha, Guilherme Eustaquio Furtado, Rubens Vinícius Letieri Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78972/harnessing-physical-activity-to-prevent-mental-health-issues-in-the-age-of-digital-stress