Lifting weight, lifting mood: Using resistance training to treat depression and anxiety
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Authors
Keyes, Ben
Issue Date
2025-10-22
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
anxiety , biopsychosocial , depression , physical activity , physical exercise , resistance training , self-efficacy , resilience
Alternative Title
Abstract
Rates of depression and anxiety in Canada have been increasing, and thousands of Canadians are finding difficulty in accessing adequate treatment (Stats Canada, 2023). Some barriers to access involve socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic barriers that psychotherapy may render standard approaches to talk therapy ineffective for some individuals in these underserved populations (Ciccolo et al., 2022; Leung et al., 2024). A positive correlation between sedentary behaviour, anxiety, and depression have also been identified in the literature (Hallgren et al., 2016; Hird et al., 2024; Oftedal et al., 2021). One potential solution, therefore, is to use physical exercise as a form of treatment for anxiety and depression (Ciccolo et al., 2022; Fortier et al., 2020; Hallgren et al., 2016; Helgadóttir et al., 2017; Howlett et al., 2021; Jong et al., 2021; Krogh et al., 2012; Mandolesi et al., 2018; Murray et al., 2022). This study will consider the question of how therapists can use resistance training (RT), a form of physical exercise, to treat anxiety and depression. A literature review was conducted that analyzed ten articles published within the last five years. A biopsychosocial model of treatment (Engel, 1981) and a CBT lens (Beck, 1984) will be adopted to guide therapists to use RT to treat depression and anxiety. The analysis of the literature found that RT principles can be used to develop clinically beneficial outcomes to treat anxiety and depression. RT can be a method for clients to lift physical weights just as it can be a way to lift their emotional moods.
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License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
openAccess
openAccess