Body-Based Intervention in Highly Stressed and Traumatized Populations: Roles of Physical Activity and Body & Sensory Approaches

Abstract

Stress-related mental health conditions are on the rise, yet conventional treatment options often neglect movement and the body as critical components of interventions. This dissertation integrates three studies that collectively highlight the therapeutic value of physical activity and body-based strategies for stress-related mental health conditions, with a focus on depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Study One examined physical activity as a moderating factor in the relationship between depressive symptoms and perceived stress in emerging adults. Results showed that higher levels of habitual physical activity buffered the impact of depressive symptoms on perceived stress during the high-stress examination period, underscoring the protective role of regular physical activity habits. Study Two investigated the effect of an eight-week aerobic exercise intervention for trauma-exposed emerging adults with subclinical posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. In contrast to those in a waitlist control group, participants in the exercise condition showed significant reductions in mood symptoms, suggesting physical activity can enhance mood and potentially serve as a protective strategy against progression of symptoms to clinical levels. Study Three introduced a novel, body-focused intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder—Sensory Strategies Education (SENSE)—which integrates psychoeducation, mindful awareness, and physical sensory regulation strategies. SENSE addresses the often-overlooked sensory and physiological dysregulation in trauma-exposed individuals, highlighting the therapeutic utility of focus on the body and movement. Taken together, this program of research suggests that body- and movement-based strategies are underrecognized yet powerful tools for both prevention and intervention in stress-related mental health conditions. This research contributes to a growing recognition that effective mental health care must include the body—not just the mind—and the growing need for alternative and complementary treatment options that serve the needs of a wider range of populations suffering from stress-related mental health conditions.