Exercise as an Antidote
How Exercises Reduce the Dangers of Mental Disorders
Siti Nurbayani, Dian Budiana, Cep Ubad Abdullah and Imam Nawawi
F
aculty of Sport and Health Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jln. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229, Bandung, Indonesia
Keywords: Mental Disorder, Public Health, Exercises, Habituation.
Abstract: Mens sana in corpore sano - a healthy mind in a healthy body. The phrase suggests that one's mental health is
affected by exercise. Even exercise can be an alternative antidote in reducing the mental disorder. Lots of
impacts resulting from exercise, but few people are concerned about it. So nowadays, the middle of social
problems faced by many cause and increasing of mental disorder. This study aims to find out the benefits of
exercise, especially about public health and mental disorders. The researcher expects that the result of this
research can contribute to the awareness for the public to make exercise as capital and an important antidote
in reducing mental disorders. This research uses qualitative method with phenomenology approach. The
results shows that in reducing mental disorders can be solved by getting into the habit of exercise and healthy
life. But what kind of exercise that can reduce those ones?
1 INTRODUCTION
The existence of 28 people in mental disorder that
occurred in Pangauban, West Bandung, is an
apprehensive and extraordinary phenomenon. Those
victims are affected by several factors, such as high
life pressures, poor health, and unhealthy
environments. Unhealthy environments could affect
psychological health directly (Hill et al., 2005). In
addition, low education and economy is a high
morbidity against mental disorders (Thoits, 2010). As
well as in Pangauban, some people with mental
disorders are living in that environment.
Reviewing the factors of mental disorders is an
important to do. Health is the most important aspect
that must be fulfilled for healthy long-term and
mental disorders preventing (Soejoeti, 2005).
Especially nowadays, complex social problems
increasingly, so it needs a health and strong mental to
keep moving dynamically. Hence, essentially public
health can eliminate factors related to disease,
disability, and premature death (Ainsworth et al.,
2007).
Public health becomes more meaningful life and
for a long life, because essentially it focuses on
protecting and improving public health (Murphy and
Bennett, 2004). In fact, many people are still less
aware of the importance of health, that happens in
Pangauban as well. Whereas, the local community
has been responsive to social problems of mental
disorders by establishing public health services
named "Sehat Jiwa".
Public health can be obtained by maintaining a
dynamic lifestyle (DiPietro, 2012). The observation,
experience and development of science suggest that
regular physical activity such as exercise can be
beneficial for long-term health (DiPietro, 2012). So,
regularly exercise is able to avoid the dangers of
depression, pressure or mental disorders. Moreover,
interaction with other society reduces a burden of life.
That is why, people who are still less aware of the
importance of exercise and healthy life is easier
getting anxiety, depression and the possibility of
mental disorders. Thereby, people who have mental
disorders can be caused by both physical and
psychological.
2 METHODS
This research was conducted in Pangauban, West
Bandung, using qualitative method and
phenomenology approach. Phenomenology approach
is used, because it is rooted in philosophy and
psychology, and focuses on the experience of human
life or sociology. Besides, the instruments of this
research is observation and interview guidelines.
346
Nurbayani, S., Budiana, D., Abdullah, C. and Nawawi, I.
Exercise as an Antidote - How Exercises Reduce the Dangers of Mental Disorders.
In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Sports Science, Health and Physical Education (ICSSHPE 2017) - Volume 2, pages 346-348
ISBN: 978-989-758-317-9
Copyright © 2018 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Causes of Mental Disorders
Stress is an imbalance condition between the
demands and the problem solving ability, resulting in
heavy pressure and depression for person who does
not have a well health system (Danielsson et al.,
2012). Stress can affect healthiness, such as mental
disorders (Slavich, 2016), especially nowadays that
complex problems and world demanding increasingly
can causes mental disorders increasingly as well
(Danielsson et al., 2012).
If mental disorders left unchecked, it will have an
impact on other aspects of life. Long mental disorders
can causes serious problems such as bad
performance, chronic fatigue, disinterest,
peevishness, memory disorders or mental disorders,
sleep problems, and numbness (Danielsson et al.,
2012).
Poor health Society often suffered many illnesses
and mental disorders (Danielsson et al., 2012). The
results showed that there were 28 people who had
mental disorders in Pangauban. The dominant factors
that cause psychological disturbances are economic
factors. According to Danielsson et al. (2012), it can
be concluded that Pangauban includes in unhealthy
society category.
The mentally disorder sufferer in Pangauban came
from low economic class, divorce families, and bad
educated. Low economic class and the burden of life
could cause panic, anxiousness, and apprehensive
that caused severe depression. Low economic class
tend to be a biggest factor of unhealthy societies and
even mental disorders (Thoits, 2010).
The low economy class causes the uncleanness
environment. The real environmental conditions in
Pangauban are categorized as densely populated,
mostly living around slum or uninhabitable neighbor
hoods, and conditions are not clean as many houses
do not have toilets. That conditions will slightly affect
the condition of people who have mental disorders.
3.2 Exercise as an Antidote
One of alternative and important way in reducing
mental disorders can be done through exercise. Doing
exercise is beneficial for spiritual, physical, and
psychic health. Therefore, in this case, exercise can
affect a lot of public health, especially for mental
disorder sufferer. Exercise can be used as an antidote
for mental disorders in order not to get worse, because
it can be beneficial for health (DiPietro, 2012).
Exercise as an antidote and mental disorders has
strong effect because of the appropriately and well
exercise records and good stress management. Stress
management can help a person feel better life (Suinn,
2005). Through exercise and good stress
management, it can help people with mental disorders
in recovery and not to exacerbate the mental.
Exercise can be beneficial for the health of the
society for a longer life, because it avoids the dangers
of depression, pressure or mental disorders, and
interact with other society as well (DiPietro, 2012).
The role of family and society certainly can be a
good contribution in actualizing exercise for mental
disorders sufferer. Sometimes, people with mental
disorders would be difficult if only ordered to
exercise independently, but must be accompanied by
the family so that people are stirred to exercise. In
addition, the surrounding society should also play a
role in creating a community climate that cares about
health and loves exercise.
3.3 Exercise Coaching
Exercise habituation can improve a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise is a way for people to release and lighten the
burden of life, so that the pressure can be minimized.
Because of the exercise’s benefit and the impact, the
society needs to apply the exercise habits as early as
possible and started from the family. Inculcation of
exercise habits in our self gives positive effect on life
in society.
Exercise habituation certainly needs support from
various parties. That activity is difficult if only done
by individuals, especially individuals are in the
middle of a slum society and not concerned with
health and exercise. Researcher in this case will
describe exercise habits in the society that has many
mental disorders.
Figure 1: Society Coaching Level.
Exercise as an Antidote - How Exercises Reduce the Dangers of Mental Disorders
347

4 CONCLUSIONS
Mental disorders can be prevented and minimized
through exercise (Kartono, 2003). In this case the
exercise as a preventive way for a healthy society
without depression or mental disorders. Exercise as a
solution and antidote as well for people who have
suffered mental disorder, because of its beneficial for
physical, psychic and mental health. Because of the
urgency of exercise in public health as a prevention
of mental disorders, the researchers dare to say that
"exercise is better than cure".
It is the emphasis that exercise habits should be
invested in the society. Exercise should be viewed as
a necessity or even an obligation for the community
especially for people who are in an "unhealthy"
environment. Exercise habituation is certainly a must
be sought by all parties, especially in the society. The
realization of habituation starts from raising
individual awareness, support from community
groups, families, and the wider society.
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